TIME TO RID PARK OF SEX PICK-UP ZONE TAG

The park is a well-known location for homosexual men 'cruising and cottaging' - day and night. It is also rapidly gaining the unenviable tag of being a 'dogging' hotspot. 'Dogging' got its name from the term "walking the dog" - an excuse given by many participants to go out and watch couples having sex, or to join in themselves.

Last month a Glengormley man was arrested by police after an alleged incident at Hazelbank's public toilets. David Mullan, 61, of Mountainvale Road, Newtownabbey was charged with being intentionally engaged in a sexual activity in a public lavatory. He appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court on July 8 and is expected to reappear in court today (July 22).

Former Mayor John Scott this week demanded something be done to put a stop to the ongoing antics at the park. The Ulster Unionist politician, who represents the Macedon area in which the park is located, called on the council to investigate the possibility of appointing permanent wardens to the Whitehouse outdoor amenity.

"If the council has the resources to place full-time wardens at Hazelbank then they should do that," he said. "If not, then the current staff which float between parks should be spending more time there."

Full story in this week's Newtownabbey Times which is available now