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Public access to the Portavo Reservoir in Bangor is under threat after a High Court judgement instructed NI Water to sell the property to an adjoining landowner.
Alliance Councillor Gavin Walker has launched a campaign to save access and is urging people to register their support to protect the reservoir.
Mr Walker said: "Ards and North Down Borough Council had agreed in principle to undertaking an economic appraisal of the reservoir with a view to purchasing it for public use. However, that process was brought to a grinding halt when a local landowner claimed a right of first refusal and dragged NI Water to the High Court to fight the sale to Council.
"As a result of the judgement, NI Water are now offering the site for sale to the landowner who will have no legal obligation to retain public access."
If successful, Councillor Walker's campaign will assert a Public Right of Way around the reservoir enshrining in law continued public access to the for us and generations to come.
He continued: "Our first hurdle will be to convince some Councillors that this is a project worthy of their support. Then we need to create a body of evidence to prove the case for granting a Public Right of Way at the reservoir.
"So I would encourage everybody who knows, loves and uses Portavo Reservoir to register their support today. There isn't a moment to lose."
