Finance for footpaths - Simpson

UUP representative, James Simpson, believes that one of the ways is to reassess budgetary considerations so that less money is given to local groups and organisations and the savings could then be used to address the footpaths issue.

He is also calling for the re-deployment of council staff whose work commitment, he alleges, is less demanding at this time of the year. .

Speaking after he had made a number of suggestions to the monthly meeting of the council recently, Cllr. Simpson is now accusing the council of failing in its civic responsibilities.

“We can debate all day who is responsible for footpaths, but to do nothing is totally wrong.

“We must look at making sure people never have to go through the same ordeal as we have just experienced.

“I want the council to look at re-deploying staff for the clearing of footpaths when they are iced up,” he said.

Cllr. Simpson says he experienced first hand what it is like to fall in the icy conditions when he was in Coleraine recently. I can tell you it’s not pleasant and it took me sometime to recover.

“I know of a number of people who have broken bones in Ballymoney and it needn’t have happened,” Cllr. Simpson added.

A council source said Cllr. Simpson was out of touch with reality. They stressed that no member of staff employed by the council was under utilised at this time.