Alliance shocked by ‘never on a Sunday’ ruling

Alliance Castlereagh Councillor Judith Cochrane has expressed her disappointment at a ruling by Castlereagh Borough Council to prevent the usage of the Council’s Function Suite on a Sunday. At a meeting of the Council’s Central Services Committee, only Alliance and UUP Councillors supported a proposal that would have allowed the hire of the Suite on a Sunday but this was opposed by the DUP whilst the SDLP Councillor present abstained.

The matter was brought up after Cllr Cochrane had arranged for a Church to use the facility after the water crisis when the pipes in their building had frozen.

Cllr. Cochrane said, “I am very disappointed at this decision by the DUP which will result in Church groups seeking similar help being turned away in future. Other Council facilities are open on Sundays and Alliance feels that the hire of the function suite should be an option depending on the merits of each application.

“This decision harks back to a time when the swings were tied up on Sundays and hardly sends out a very progressive view of Castlereagh.”

ENDS