The Ulster Unionist Party’s South Down MLA John McCallister has expressed his concern and disappointment at the news that Newcastle beach has failed to meet the required stand for bathing waters for the 2012 season.
Mr McCallister said:
‘The news that the bathing waters at Newcastle beach have failed to meet the required Directive standards for the 2012 bathing season is both disappointing and concerning.
Newcastle is one of Northern Ireland’s premier tourist resorts and has benefitted from a great deal of investment in tourist infrastructure in recent times.
It is therefore vital that the Department of the Environment investigates what caused the bathing waters to fail to meet the required water quality standard on two occasions in June and July.
I understand that the failure has been put down to the effect of heavy rainfall and that on both occasions the situation had been rectified with 24 hours, but it is essential that we do all we can to ensure that Newcastle is prioritised to minimise the chances of failure in the future.
The tourist industry is vital to the local South Down economy and Newcastle is absolutely key to this sector.”
Ends