McCarthy wins Ards land battle, but war is not yet over

11.02.24am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 30th Apr 2007

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy

Strangford Alliance MLA Kieran McCarthy has scored a stunning victory in his battle to save Ards coastal land. He has helped secured the future of a seafront play area and paddling pool in Donaghadee which Ards Council had threatened to turn into a car park. He called the triumph a victory for people power and said that it has bolstered his campaign to save other Ards land which the Council wants to sell off to property developers.

Kieran McCarthy MLA said: "I am very pleased that we have won our battle to save this popular play area. This is a real victory for people power and shows what can be done when everyone works together towards a shared aim.

"The battle is won but the war goes on to save other pieces of Ards coastal land and a another playground. Our campaign has been bolstered by this victory and we will continue to keep concerted pressure on the Council to scrap their ridiculous plans to sell off this land to property developers.

"Local people can see that they can now overcome the power of the Council, so we are even more confident that we can stop them selling important coastal and playground land. We simply cannot let these areas of natural beauty and tourism potential become building sites.

"This victory will hopefully have taught the Council and many Councillors to listen to the voices of local people. It was totally disgraceful that the Council wanted to turn this popular seafront amenity into a car park and it is a scandal that after their defeat on this issue, they are still intent on selling key areas of coastal land that belong to the public."

ENDS