South Down SDLP MLA Colin McGrath highlights issues being faced by residents of Kinghill, Newcastle.
Commenting on the issues, the Colin McGrath said: “The now fast-tracked food alleviation scheme has not only promised safety and security for over 300 homes in Newcastle but has also unlocked fresh potential for other key areas.
“The Kinghill area is one that has been developed over the years and offered new housing for many families. However, for any residents who walk into the town their journey time could be cut drastically if a pathway connecting Kinghill to the Tipperary Wood paths were to be developed.
“As NI Forest Service have responsibility for the Wood, I have written to the DAERA Minister and asked that his officials give consideration to this and explore various options as to how this would be achieved.
“Also, I recently wrote to the Minister regarding rubbish here and unfortunately the response I received indicated that the area is checked once a month for rubbish. Yet I still have constituents detailing to me that rubbish is often left for two months at a time, which is simply not acceptable.
“However, now that Minister Poots has resumed his post as DAERA Minister I will be highlighting this to him once more.
“I know how proud residents of Newcastle are about their homes and about their hometown. That sense of civic pride is something that we as politicians should be seeking to help develop, as opposed to letting bureaucracy create obstacles in the way of such development.
“I want to assure the residents of Kinghill, Tipperary Lane and the Bryansford Road that I will not be such an obstacle but will do all I can to facilitate their aspirations for their home,” said Colin MCGrath.
