Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

COUNCILLOR DISAPPOINTED AT PROPOSALS TO CLOSE LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTRES

Published: 17 February, 2009

Fews area Sinn Féin Councillor Pat Mc Ginn has expressed regret that at the recent series of discussions in relation to rates, Council senior management "effectively bounced in the closing of Community Centres including Cloughreagh", in response to his and other Councillors demand for more cost effective and efficient services. "There is now a huge concern within the Cloughreagh Community, that the Centre will be targeted for potential closure. Cloughreagh has suffered over the years through neglect by many agencies, and the area which has many hundreds of houses has been denied a Recreational Area year after year, despite the fact that the Council closed the previous one down and failed to replace it. Rather than destroy whatever fabric of community self esteem and capacity that exists with the Cloughreagh community by closing the Centre, our Community Services Department should be playing a leading role in encouragement community cohesion and well being" said the Councillor, who added "Coming on the back of the recent opening of the new School facilities at St Peters Cloughreagh, the closing of the Community Centre would have been a terrible blow for the local community". He concluded by stating "Proposals to close any Community Centre for whatever reasons, should not be bounced into the middle of rates discussions. Any decision regarding Community facilities and services should be made in full and informed consultation with the local community".