ALLIANCE Assembly member, Alderman Kieran McCarthy, has welcomed the opening of the new waste water treatment works at Kircubbin on the Ards peninsula today.
The official opening of the £1.5 million works was conducted by Minister of State John Spellar.
Alderman McCarthy said: “The is great news for Kircubbin, as it gives us a facility that is up to European standards. It will also allow Kircubbin to grow substantially as a village, and I would like to pay tribute to the Water Service for their co-operation both with myself and the local community association.
“I say that, because originally the water treatment works were to be built close to a school, housing and community centre. But children, residents and community groups held a protest outside Downpatrick’s planning offices, and after lobbying the Water Service the works were moved behind a hill and well out of sight.
“I’m glad they listened to the people of Kircubbin, and the co-operation has paid off.”