Sandra Overend blames ‘lack of political will’ for collapse of Desertcreat college project

“The people of Mid-Ulster have had to listen to excuse after excuse about Desertcreat, as the project stumbled from one delay to another, and now we have the news that the scheme has been halted,” she said.

“I am extremely disappointed that such an important project, not just for the Mid Ulster area but for Northern Ireland as a whole, has been dragged into the current budget situation, when building work should have started long ago. The benefits that the college could have brought to Cookstown and the surrounding area are well established, and there will be bitter disappointment amongst the local business community at this news.

“It is evident that the construction of the Northern Ireland Community Safety College at Desertcreat has been the victim of a lack of political will, and the Ministers responsible must be held accountable. The public have many questions about the handling of this project. I have requested an urgent meeting with the Justice Minister and been in contact with the Director of the College Programme Board this afternoon, and I will continue to seek answers in the days ahead.”