By Sarah Curran
‘NEGLECTFUL’ maintenance at the historic Ballywalter Lime Kilns needs to change, a local politician has said.
Ards and North Down alderman Robert Adair said he was ‘horrified’ recently to find the 19th century stone structure area in Ballywalter to be ‘totally neglected’.
Back in 2020, the council-owned area benefitted from a regeneration grant of £265,292 funded by Coastal Communities Fund, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, European Union and Ards and North Down Council.
As well as restoring the existing Lime Kilns, the funds were used to create new access paths and install street furniture such as picnic benches. However, Mr Adair claims the council has not attended the area since it had been upgraded.
“The council got money to restore the area back in 2020,” he said. “There was a huge restoration done of that area including planting, nice new seating put in and new pathways created. The area was absolutely beautiful.
“But the council has not attended to it since the area was installed.”
Mr Adair said the seating in the area is in need of painting, plants needed tending and the pathways were overgrown.
He continued: “While the investment was welcome and hard fought for, the council needs to implement a better maintenance programme.
“It is just neglect and it is disappointing, especially in these summer months when people want to use it more, that it has gotten into that state.
“It is just disappointing, after all that investment, how bad it looks,” he said, adding that he was calling on the council to implement a proactive maintenance scheme in the Lime Kilns area.
A council spokeswoman said they had carried out routine maintenance works at the Lime Kilns site ‘since the enhancement works were completed in 2020’.
They said the work included grass cutting, litter and waste management, weed control and vegetation management across the area.
“The site is in an extremely exposed coastal location and, as a result,
some planting and landscape features can be challenging to establish,” she said.
“Council officers are currently reviewing the planting areas to determine whether alternative approaches would be more suitable for the site conditions.
“Council officers will also assess any failed trees and undertake replacement planting where appropriate. In addition, works are planned in the coming months to refurbish sections of the gravel pathway at the site, which will improve accessibility and assist with ongoing weed management in accordance with the council’s herbicide reduction policy.
“Plans have also been made to have the bench and picnic tables at the site freshly power washed. Council officers are also investigating a suitable treatment for the wood, which is natural timber – to keep it well protected from the elements.
“Council remains committed to delivering safe, high-quality and accessible outdoor spaces for residents and visitors to the borough to enjoy,” she said.
