Hope for Café Lagoon reprieve after meeting

HOPE has been held out for a reprieve for Cafe Lagoon at Banbridge Leisure Centre.

As a result of a round table meeting organised by Upper Bann MP David Simpson and including local political representatives, council officers and the cafe Lagoon proprietor proposals are to be brought to Banbridge District Council that hold out the prospect of a breathing space that would allow Cafe Lagoon to continue to trade and also participate in a future tendering process for the service.

“The proposals that we brought to Council officers still need to be ratified by council,” said Mr Simpson.

So nothing can be taken for granted until Council members have had the opportunity to consider them. I would not want to pre-empt what they might think or to presume that just because I as MP have brokered this meeting and enabled these proposals to be tabled, that they should just simply follow my lead. Council members ought to be given the space to consider these proposals fairly.”

“I am pleased, though that Council officers have responded positively to the proposals that I and my colleagues in conjunction with Mr and Mrs Bickerstaff have brought to them.

“ If accepted, they would grant a reprieve for Cafe Lagoon, allowing it to continue on a temporary basis, but also allowing Mr and Mrs Bickerstaff, if they chose to, to tender for the service at the appropriate time.”