Cllr Liam Johnston who met with representatives of both Downpatrick Boxing Club & Downpatrick Youth League said the pitches are a much needed facility for the town, with up to 800 kids using the park every weekend for football tournaments, and clubs like Downpatrick Boxing club using it for evening classes.
“What these kids were faced with on Sunday morning is appalling. Raw sewerage emerging up around them as they took part in sport activities. As a Councillor I am fully aware of the need for Down Council to maintain and run these pitches, but this issue is one which NI Water seriously needs to address. They are responsible for their water mains and for this towns sewerage infrastructure. They must act now to resolve these persistent problems.”
Cllr Éamonn Mac Con Midhe echoed those words and said that he and Sinn Féin officials had already been actively pursuing the sewerage issue with NI Water following months of foul smells across the town.
The local MLA has now called for an urgent meeting with NI Water to see what plans they have to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
“Not only is this a blatant health and safety issue, it is also gives me concern that again this type of incident will disrupt business in the town. In June the Market Street area of Downpatrick experienced heavy flooding during one of the busiest and driest weeks of the year – and this has happened on more than one occasion. Businesses there were forced to struggle for the rest of the summer period to make up for their losses. The flooding at Dunleath has the potential to once again seriously hamper business in this town, as more and more people are put off coming to shop or eat out in Downpatrick due to filthy smells and the very distasteful image this sends out.
“I want to be very clear and will make this point to NI Water when I meet with them next week. Downpatrick and this district deserve better and are very much open for business regardless of this issue. We are a town on the up and we will not tolerate this type of half-hearted approach in solving problems associated with our infrastructure anymore.”
