Newcombe welcomes absence of vandalism

Moyle Council compiles monthly updates to show the amount of ratepayers money which has to be spent to repair damage and some months the total can be over 1,000.

In the past councillors have condemned the waste of resources with particular concern being expressed about vandals targeting life-saving equipment at local beaches.

But between the period March 2 to March 31 this year the Council had no reports of any vandalism.

Cllr Newcombe said he hoped the absence of vandalism was a reflection on “good policing” but he also thought the cold weather during March may have kept potential vandals indoors.

He said the ZERO reports of vandalism should be praised.

The councillor told a Moyle Council meeting: “We ridicule everyone when there is a spate of vandalism and we should welcome this when there is something positive.”

Meanwhile, Cushendall SDLP councillor Orla Black says the good weather of the weekend of April 10/11 brought out the ‘blue bag brigade’ to the showpiece Cottage Wood park in the town.

She said there were a lot of of people drinking in the area who left bottles and cans in their wake.

Cllr Black said the issue of closing the gates at the facility will have to be re-examined.

Regarding the open-air drinking, she said: “It is going to ruin our facility if we don’t do something about it.”