By Sarah Curran
A NEWTOWNARDS man has called for better management at the scenic Scrabo Country Park.
David Brashaw enjoys walks to the famous Newtownards landmark around two to three times a week, to take in the fresh air, breath-taking scenery and meet with like-minded walkers.
However, recently he has noticed the pathway leading to the town, managed by the Northern Ireland Environmental Agency (NIEA), has become unkempt with overgrowth.
The keen walker also pointed out how bins and dog poo bins had recently been removed by the same agency, leaving only two bins for users at the picnic area and at the car park – with none actually around the main attraction at the top of the hill.
Mr Brashaw also said he believes the area to be under-utilised, pointing out that the historic building has not been open to the public since 2019.
“I don’t think the park has been managed and it is becoming less people friendly,” he said.
While NIEA have laid gravel on the pathways at Scrabo Tower, in hopes of making the area less muddy and wet for walkers, Mr Brashaw said the pathways were now overgrown, meaning walkers were still getting wet on their travels.
Mr Brashaw also said he believed management of the overgrowth by NIEA to be ‘hit and miss’, noting how it was ‘butchered’ back in 2021, when contractors employed by the government body not only cleared away overgrowth, but cut away berries and natural forage depended on by wildlife.
“The hedgerows on either side of the path were strewn with blackberries one day and the next day there were none,” he said.
Noting the recent removal of litter bins in the area by the NIEA, Mr Brashaw continued: “I think the less hassle for people in power, the easier it is for them to say ‘we’ve done a great job’, when in fact it isn’t helping the community at all.
“You’ve really only two bins and maybe two or three poo bins for what is a four and a half mile area.”
Mr Brashaw said he believed Scrabo Tower should be made open to the public again to encourage more visitors, adding that the paths leading to the tower should be better managed keeping in mind nature as well as community and finally that more bins should be placed in the area or signs asking people to be mindful of littering.
A spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which manages the country park through the NIEA, said there was ‘regular’ maintenance along the Scrabo path network.
“Park management undertake regular grounds maintenance works across the path network within Scrabo Country Park, this is undertaken by both site staff and contractors,” he said.
“Whilst the enforcement of littering and dog foul offences remains the responsibility of Ards and North Down Borough Council, a number of bins were removed several months ago due to safety concerns that were identified in the servicing of those bins.
“There remain, however, multiple litter bins and dog foul bins at entrance and exit points and in proximity to all the site’s car parks, picnic areas, and the Scrabo tower path. This marginal reduction in bins also contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of the park and further endorses the important ‘leave no trace’ message when visiting NIEA country parks and nature reserves helping to make the environmental footprint of the visiting public more sustainable”.
A spokesman for the Department for Communities, who take charge of Scrabo Tower, said a planned opening in 2020 could not proceed due to persistent water ingress issues impacting electrical and fire safety systems within the tower itself.
“Plans to resolve the issues have been developed to enable the interior to be made safe for public access,?” he said “However, these plans are budget dependent.
“The Department is committed to progressing the required conservation project to allow the tower to reopen as soon as funding becomes available.”
