Nicola Grant has said she is inundated with people asking if the Workers Party will support the community in their opposition to the selling of public land in Newry that is currently used as a children’s playground.

Nicola continued that the decision to sell the land was agreed by Sinn Fein and DUP members of the Newry Mourne and Down Council and if it’s not sold in six months they will place it on the open market. Meaning some private developer will buy public land at a bargain basement price.

The Workers Party is opposed to public land being privatised in this way. The community will have no real say on what the site will be used for. Nicola also points out that although a new park was opened at Martins Lane in 2022 for the local children, it is half a mile away and not ideal for children living in a built-up urban area to access as busy roads have to be crossed. We in the Workers Party believe that more parks are needed in urban areas, and are completely opposed to the closing of this much needed public space.

This decision only serves to highlight the lack of concern for the youth and children for whom the council should be providing and protecting facilities, we need more facilities not less. Why don’t the Council keep the land and repurpose it, for the use of the community, for example, a drop-in centre for teenagers, a women’s centre or a crèche for working parents. Nicola concluded that all public land must stay in state ownership and be used for the benefit of local ratepayers and taxpayer