A team of SDLP councillors, Sean Rogers MLA and Margaret Ritchie MP visited Dundrum on Saturday (18 May) as part of a canvass schedule that will cover all parts of the new Slieve Croob District Electoral Area.
Following the resetting of the boundaries for council elections, local parties will now become more active in canvassing coming up to the shadow council elections for the new South Down Council in 2014.
A number of issues were brought to the fore by Dundrum people during the SDLP walkabout. Margaret Ritchie MP said the local residents welcomed the opportunity of speaking with their elected representatives. Some of the issues discussed included the speeding traffic at the primary school, the Twelfth bonfire and the need for a playground for local children. While all of these issues are already on the agenda of SDLP politicians, the SDLP representatives have given an assurance that they will continue to resolve these matters on behalf of the people of Dundrum.
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South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Assemblyman Seán Rogers, and SDLP Councillors, canvassed Dundrum on Saturday to address local issues.[/caption]
Following the visit to Dundrum, South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said: “The residents of Dundrum are frequent visitors to my office and I am already engaged with them on a number of local issues. However, it is always a pleasure to speak to them at their own homes and to let them know that the SDLP is never far away.”
Seán Rogers MLA said: “This was an ideal opportunity for us to let the people know that I have recently opened an office in Newcastle, and while it is already busy, the people of Dundrum should know that there is a lot we can do for them through my constituency work. They are very welcome to visit my office. We will continue to work towards the provision of a much needed playground for local children and resolve other issues.”
Councillor Carmel O’Boyle who is also Chair of the Down Policing and Community Safety Partnership, said: “Under my chairmanship of the PCSP, a lot of work is continuing behind the scenes to resolve the bonfire issue in Dundrum. Eco-friendly beacons are an excellent alternative to bonfires. For environmental reasons, if for no other reason, old styled bonfires should now be a thing of the past.
“The speeding issue at the Sacred Heart Primary School in Dundrum is unacceptable. A more long-term solution needs to be found. In the PCSP we continue to monitor and measure the traffic at this part of the village. Another issue which involved the location of picnic tables in the village has now been resolved thanks to the intervention of the SDLP, so there will be movement on this in the coming weeks,” added Councillor O’Boyle.
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