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Unionist councillors query why £20,000 of public money being spent to upgrade mobile phone coverage in Bellaghy

Council outlay on mobile phone coverage in Bellaghy is timed to coincide with the opening of the Seamus Heaney Centre. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Council outlay on mobile phone coverage in Bellaghy is timed to coincide with the opening of the Seamus Heaney Centre. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Council outlay on mobile phone coverage in Bellaghy is timed to coincide with the opening of the Seamus Heaney Centre. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

UNIONIST councillors have raised objections to £20,000 of public money being spent upgrading mobile phone coverage in a south Derry village.

The decision, approved at a meeting of Mid-Ulster District Council in February, means Bellaghy, in addition to £100,000 for improvement works, is to benefit from the upgrade ahead of the opening of the Heaney Centre later this year.

The Rural Development Programme, run by DARD, can offer funding for rural communities experiencing mobile phone coverage problems but the council declined to explore this option as "it may be autumn before an application could be made and there is no guarantee of success."

During the meeting, Ulster Unionist councillor Trevor Wilson said that he had a "major issue" with council money funding the scheme as "many areas currently have insufficient coverage and council is not stepping in to provide solutions."

DUP councillor Anne Forde said: "I was asking why spend council money if this (DARD) money could be spent instead. In the South Londonderry area as a whole there are areas that would also need to be upgraded. I would hope that council would be mindful of those other areas."

There had been claims that council officers had approached mobile phone consultants to be told that "companies would not pay out the money required to put in place signals when there was so few people."

Sinn Féin councillor Caoimhe O'Neill said: "I am shocked and disappointed that some councillors have complained about the money that has been allocated to Bellaghy, despite cross party support when the issue was raised and proposed in council.

"With the fast approaching opening of the world class Heaney Centre, it is vital that our village is given a much needed face lift to increase the appeal of the area. This is not just about Bellaghy."

A spokeswoman for Mid-Ulster District Council said the Heaney Centre would attract "national and international visitors" and added that "adequate wi-fi coverage is essential."

"The proposal presented at the council meeting refers to £20,000 of expenditure to increase wi-fi coverage...in the same way in which the town centres of Cookstown, Dungannon and Magherafelt have benefited from council funded wi-fi coverage improvements."

The spokeswoman added: "There will be an opportunity for other identified towns and villages in Mid-Ulster to avail of...the rural development programme delivered by council for similar work."