Councillors who voted for the removal of a bus shelter in Bessbrook have been challenged to come out and “stand in the wind and the rain” and justify their decision.
Residents – who were in favour of the siting of the shelter where it was at Cloughreagh – were unable to use the bus service last Saturday because of the torrential rains which fell.
And with more wet weather guaranteed with the approach of the darker evenings, councillors have been urged to put themselves in the shoes of locals who have been affected.
Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Roisin Mulgrew issued the challenge after she was contacted by Cloughreagh residents, who because of last weekend’s weather, could not avail of public transport becaused there was no shelter.
She has once again slammed the decision to take away the shelter which had been well used.
“What has happened is totally wrong,” said councillor Mulgrew.
“The vindictive decision taken by councillors who knew nothing of this area, to remove the bus shelter despite it being supported by the vast majority of the community, has resulted in residents, particularly the most vulnerable, being unable to access the bus service when weather conditions are poor.
“Hiding behind the pledge to find another site is meaningless, as this issue has been going on for years and we finally felt it was resolved when a bus shelter was erected in Cloughreagh in a central area.
“The community feel they have been conveniently abandoned. I am not prepared to allow that to happen.
“Last weekend’s torrential rain was an example of weather conditions local people will have to endure in the coming winter months.
“I challenge those councillors who denied this community their bus shelter to find their way to Cloughreagh and stand out in the wind and rain to experience at first hand what many of my constituents are experiencing because they are being denied a bus shelter.”
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