'£5,000' Cottage Wood bill

There have been concerns about cars speeding in the site and also complaints about the activities of open-air drinkers.

Moyle Council is considering whether closing the main vehicle gates and/or the pedestrian gates at night would be of benefit.

An estimate says it would cost around 96 per week for an hour to spent each day for someone to close the gates.

Cushendall SDLP councillor Orla Black said people stop her on a daily basis asking for something to be done at the Cottage Wood.

She said: “We want to keep the Cottage Wood a nice place for people to enjoy. I don’t think 96 is that much considering we will have to pay more in vandalism.”

Council Vice-Chairperson, Cllr Robert McIlroy (DUP), said it would be 5,000 per year.

Glens Independent councillor Randal McDonnell said closing the gates would not stop the open-air drinkers getting in.

From the drinkers’ point of view he said the Cottage Wood is the ideal place for them.

He said open-air drinking is “bad manners” and he added: “but that is the way people behave”.

Cushendall Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan said the main thrust of complaints he was getting was about vehicles in the area and he believed the gates could be closed for a lot cheaper than 96 a week.

He said cars are speeding round in circles in the Cottage Wood carpark and also going up onto a grass bank and he said the solution is to close the vehicle gates at night but keep the pedestrian gates open and he said consideration should be given to doing something on a trial basis this summer.