A councillor has called for Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council to “fully implement” his motion asking for water refill stations to be installed across the borough.
Speaking at council’s monthly meeting on Monday, Councillor Thomas O’Hanlon referenced a council press release, issued earlier this month, highlighting the local authority’s 28 water refill points.
But he told the chamber these “outside taps” are not in keeping with the spirit of the motion he brought before the chamber in 2019.
He asked for a report to be produced next month detailing “how and when” the notice of motion will be implemented in full.
“In August 2019, I brought a notice of motion to council about water refill stations and earlier this month I noticed a press release from council advising that we now have, in quotation marks, ‘water refill stations’, across the council area,” said the SDLP group leader.
“They are not water refill stations they are outside taps, if you are lucky. In fact, in some places, where the council’s website lists these facilities as available, like the Palace building and the TMAC in Keady, along with a number of others, to say we now have water refill stations is a stretch.
“At these locations what you are actually directed to do is to go to the toilet or the bathroom and refill your water bottle there.
“One, it is not good enough and two, it is not in keeping with the notice of motion.
“Can I ask that a report is brought back next month detailing how and when the notice of motion will be implemented in full.”
Lord Mayor Paul Greenfield confirmed the report would be produced by officers in time for next month’s committee meetings.
