Trust hopes meeting will calm anger

Trust hopes meeting will calm anger

10 October 2012

A PUBLIC meeting will take place in Dundrum later this month on the National Trust’s plans for Murlough Nature Reserve.

The meeting comes after the Trust angered local residents over plans to remove a special pass which admits them to the reserve. The pass costs £33 a year but the Trust intends to do away with it and wants the villagers to take out full membership at a cost of over £50.

However, the Trust plan has provoked a backlash among many pass holders who are angry there was no consultation over the proposal and who have accused Trust officials of acting in a high handed manner.

Over 100 people signed a petition expressing concern about the proposal which is due

to come into effect in

January. Many have said they will not take out Trust membership because of the way the officials have dealt with the issue.

Dundrum councillor Patrick Clarke has been liaising with senior Trust officials over the issue and believes the meeting, on Monday, October 29, in St. Donard’s Church Hall, will help clear the air.

“The National Trust officials accept they didn’t perhaps handle this as well as they could have and they want to meet pass holders to explain their plans for the reserve,” he said.

“They have a number of proposals which they want to outline to villagers which they believe will improve the reserve and the experience of visiting it.

“They are keen to emphasise that any money they can raise from increasing membership will be used exclusively for the development of Murlough and will not go into the Trust’s coffers to be used elsewhere,” he added.