Ballykinlar community facility unused over power supply issue

Ballykinlar community facility unused over power supply issue

19 February 2020

A COMMUNITY centre in Ballykinlar is lying unused because it has no electricity supply, it emerged this week.

Newry, Mourne and Down councillors heard on Monday night that the long awaited Ballykinlar Community Centre has yet to be occupied even though it has been ready since Christmas.

The issue is that NIE Networks is having problems getting agreement from the Ministry of Defence to carry out work on its land at the nearby disused army barracks in order to get a mains supply to the council-run facility.

The centre, a prefabricated building formerly used by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service in Downpatrick, was moved to the former Kindle Primary School School site in Ballykinlar.

Councillors attending a meeting of the Active and Healthy Communities Committee were told that the connection agreement “could be a long-term problem and the longer the facility is left unoccupied, the more prone it will become to vandalism”.

They also heard that Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association was “very keen to open the facility with numerous users waiting to move in”.

Slieve Croob councillor Cathy Mason urged council officers to step in and to see if a temporary supply of electricity could provided by generators in the interim.

She said: “The community groups are crying out to use these facilities and a lot of things depend on it such as the allotments and formation of a new Men’s Shed.”

Downpatrick councillor John Trainor also asked the council to see what could be done as he said it was clear that the facility was much needed.

Council officer Janine Hillen offered a temporary solution of using £3,500 to pay for the use of electricity generators until it ran out, which was proposed by Cllr Mason and seconded by Cllr Trainor.

If a generator is used to provide electricity to Ballykinlar Community Centre, it will be the second council facility to use this method as a generator is used at the Flying Horse civic amenity centre in Downpatrick.

Yesterday Cllr Mason said it was “completely unacceptable that the Ballykinlar community have been let down on this”.

“This community group have worked tirelessly to get this much needed new facility in the village,” she remarked. “Both council officials and County Down Rural Community Network have worked alongside the community to secure funding and resources for the site, but they now find themselves unable to use it due to lack of an electricity connection.”

“It is imperative that NIE and the Ministry of Defence overcome any barriers that is stopping this electricity connection.  

Cllr Mason said South Down MP Chris Hazzard had made representations to the Secretary of State to stress the importance of the community facility for Ballykinlar and to “sort this issue as soon as possible”.

Downpatrick councillor Dermot Curran said he would continue to call on the council to get the matter sorted out as soon as possible.

“I’m very annoyed to think that this much-needed facility is lying idle as the community has been waiting on this for years.

“People were delighted to have been told that they would get this facility on a site which had been used as a drinking den and it’s about time they were able to use it.”

After the meeting Niall Addis, chairman of the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association, spoke of his growing frustration at not being able to use the centre.

“We are all so ready to get into the building and use it,” said Mr Addis, “Apart from our group, the Forever Young pensioners group wants to use it, the Allotments Society, a new Men’s Shed and I have at least five people who wish to hold parties at the centre but I can’t give them a date when it is opening.”

Mr Addis said he had to lobby to get the council to allow the contractor’s generator to be used to power the council’s sustainable Christmas tree for a few days and he is angry that this was not continued beyond that.

“This is not acceptable and needs to be sorted out,” said Mr Addis. “I’m calling on the council, NIE and the MoD to address the power supply on as soon as possible.”

Last night the Ministry of Defence indicated that it had been working with NIE Networks and “awaited confirmation of the proposed works”.

A spokesman said: “We continue to work with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks on the installation of a power supply for the community centre.

“The MOD has a long relationship with the Ballykinlar area and is pleased to support the development of this centre.”