‘Weed reduction small step in right direction’

AS workers began a much-needed weed-out of Strabane town centre this week, a West Tyrone MLA says this move represents only a small step in the right direction.

The SDLP’s Daniel McCrossan welcomed the council-led clean-up following an exposé in last week’s Strabane Chronicle about the state of the town’s many over-grown footpaths and uneven surfaces in pedestrian areas.

The matter had come to a head in recent weeks after a local woman tripped on uneven paving on the Back Street and suffered a fall. She sustained severe fractures to her leg and required hospitalisation and surgery.

Further insult was added to this injury when the Department for Infrastructure suggested that weed control in Strabane was ‘effective’.

“While I do welcome this move by council following intense SDLP lobbying, it is only a small step in the right direction,” Mr McCrossan said.

“For far too long, Strabane and the entire old council area has been severely neglected by those in charge in Derry City. There is not parity of esteem nor is there equality in provision.

“That is why I and the SDLP have challenged and intensely lobbied the chief executive on this issue. People need to see value for their rates and up until now, they simply have not.

“I do welcome the planned initiatives for Strabane town centre and I do also believe that council now know that people in Strabane won’t simply sit back and allow their town to fall into disrepair.

“While these temporary measures will improve the town centre, the SDLP will be immediately demanding the almost £8 million pounds of investment promised in the Strabane Public Realm scheme which we hope will be delivered in the coming months.”

He concluded, “As MLA for this area, as a local man who loves this town, I am sick and tired of having to fight with the council for even basic services. This has to stop and stop now.”