Individual Post

POSTED By : DESTINATION NEWRY
Post Date : 09 Feb 2018 09:21 AM
Community Anger at Council Bus Shelter Decision

Slieve Gullion Area Sinn Féin Councillor Roisin Mulgrew has said that the recent decision by Newry Mourne & Down Council to remove the Bus Shelter in Cloughreagh has left many in the Cloughreagh and John F Kennedy Park areas very angry.

The local Councillor who on behalf of residents made the request for a Bus Shelter almost two years ago said that she like those who had contacted her were both angry and bewildered.

Councillor Mulgrew stated,
"This, as Translink can confirm is a particularly busy and well used service. As an elected representative for the area, I was asked almost two years ago to have a bus shelter erected to serve the Cloughreagh and Kennedy Park estates. All procedures were properly followed. It was only after the shelter had started to be installed that a petition was received raising concerns of anti-social behaviour. A number of meetings were held with different agencies including the PSNI who at these meetings confirmed that they were unaware of any such incidents at the Shelter"

The elected representative continued,

"On several occasions, I have recommended that Bus Shelter be completed. I also felt that my request to monitor the area for any increase in anti-social activities was very reasonable and would be seen as doing my best to be fair to anyone who had doubts about the erection of the much needed facility.

Over the last week, the local youth group carried out an independent survey of 123 homes with 108 in favour of retaining the shelter. The Councillors who decided to deny this Bus Shelter have completely ignored the work by these local young people and also letters of support from older residents with mobility issues and the parents of young children whose only access to travel is by Public Transport.

The service is now a stop and hail service and Translink again stated that they were happy with the shelter location and anyone using the shelter would be picked up by the bus. Although it has been suggested that a new location will be sought, Council officials have clearly stated that this could prove difficult and will not cater for the majority of residents whereas the current location was central.

Those who voted to deny the Cloughreagh community of the use of this Bus Shelter have denied the vast majority of the people that I represent the very Services which they fight for in their own communities. This area has suffered much deprivation for many generations, however, over recent years people from within this community have stepped forward and shown great leadership and commitment to encourage a new sense of pride and ownership of the area. To deny our most vulnerable, the old and young families, access to protection from inclement weather whilst they wait for a public service with unfounded claims of anti-social activities is nothing short of a disgrace"