“During the consultation period about the future of Markethill Barracks I strongly supported its closure and recommended that the land be made available for community use so that the local community would benefit from this central site. It’s therefore disappointing that the former Police Station site has now gone on the open market without any recommendation or mention of community use.
“Markethill has a number of community needs including car parking, employment and an inclusive play area as well as other needs and I had hoped that this key site would incorporate some of these needs. I think local people will be dismayed to realise that a site which has always been a community site is now on the open market and its future function will be in the hands of the successful developer rather than the community.
“I hope the successful bidder will consult the community on future uses of the site.
”“I also hope that the income generated from this sale will be re-invested back into community policing in Markethill and its surrounding areas. I will be writing to the PSNI to make this recommendation and hope at least then the local community can benefit from the sale of this site.”
ENDS