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

Curran vindicated on rates debate

Published: 25 April, 2009

Sinn Féin Councillor Brendan Curran has said that Sinn Féin's stance on the rates issue has now proven to have been correct. The Party's leader on the Council stated that the people of Newry and Mourne will suffer from the stance taken by other parties - and celebrated by the SDLP in the media.

Cllr Curran said:

"As a result of the stance taken by the other Parties in the Council we are now faced with the ridiculous situation where the Council will not pay for the most basic of community needs.

"Recently the removal of lifeguard services at Cranfield beach has resulted in jet skis jetting up and down what was the safe swimming zone. There have also been quad-bikes racing around the beach area where they had previously been excluded, and where children should be playing safely.

"Thankfully there have been no life threatening injuries yet, despite lack of lifeguards, but this is no reason to be negligent.

"At different times during Easter visitors to the beach couldn't drive up or down due to people parking indiscriminately. Proper parking had always been policed by lifeguards.

"Sinn Féin argued that Council expenditure should include these basic facilities for the people of this area. However, due to the cheap self-promotion of other Parties, we now have this ridiculous, and dangerous, situation."