Gibbons - 'A Park should be free for everyone'

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Kilbroney Forest Park. Photograph: Columba O'Hare/ Newry.ie

Crotlieve Councillor Mark Gibbons has expressed his anger at the decision to charge for parking at Council Parks.

Speaking on the timeline that led to the decision being made Cllr Gibbons said "A huge number of people have contacted me recently regarding the new charging facility at Kilbroney Park.

"From the day and hour I became a Councillor - even before - I have been completely against the thought of charging into Kilbroney Park. A park should be free for everyone: for helping with mental health, exercise, connecting with nature, meeting friends and family, the list goes on and the benefits are endless. Every Council owned park should be free of charge."

Cllr Gibbons explained that Council organised a number of in-house workshops last year to help develop and plan the initiative with Political parties and Councillors invited to attend.

He said "I had no intention of playing any part in these workshops and decided to boycott them all on principle. I have been firmly against the idea of charging people for access to green spaces from the start and I certainly wasn't going to help with the process. A Councillor should never do a U-turn on the people who keep that Councillor in a job.

"Over the last number of weeks I have repeatedly asked Council to treat the public with the respect they deserve and explain openly to everyone their intentions. I am disappointed that only now, at this late stage, information is being made available. The Representatives who attended these workshops should also have the common decency to inform their constituents about what they attended, what was decided, and most importantly, what is actually going to happen".

The Crotlieve Councillor continued "No mention at all about the Public Consultation results that overwhelmingly objected to this proposal.

"No mention with any great clarity or common sense on how this will affect an already awful parking situation around the outskirts of the Park and within the Village itself.

"No mention of the cost of living crisis and how people are already suffering enough."

Cllr Gibbons concluded "Once again, I will be contacting our Council, demanding that the public be informed through every means possible, not just on a website. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact your local Councillor/Political Party/Council for a response-if you don't agree with this initiative.

"I might make the odd mistake or two, but I'll never bury my head in the sand. Time for all involved in this project to lift their heads out of that sand and explain themselves to you, the rate payer. Whether you agree with it or not."