Limavady Council refutes emergency equipment 'unfit for purpose'

Independent Unionist Councillor Leslie Cubitt said the machine, bought in March of this year, cannot be deployed properly because council do not own a vehicle to transport it. The generator is currently being held at the Roe Valley Leisure Centre, where the UUC councillor claims a standby-by machine already exists.

"This is a machine which was very expensive yet is completely unfit for purpose, because we do not have a vehicle that can tow it," said Councillor Cubitt.

"Only a vehicle with an air-brake system can transport this generator and at present, Limavady council do not have that type of vehicIe. I have already challenged the council on this and I have asked them could they have it in Dungiven within an hour if needs be. They couldn't answer me."

The generator was bought by the council at 58,380 earlier in the year to meet the needs of it's Emergency and Business Continuity Plans. The equipment would aid in emergency situations such as April's severe snow drift which saw up to 40 people spend the night in the town's leisure centre after being rescued from the Glenshane Pass.

A spokesperson for Limavady Borough Council challenged Councillor Cubitt's claims.

The spokesperson said: "Council purchased a generator earlier this year at a cost of 58,380 (not 71,000) in order to provide stand-by electricity generation capacity to meet the needs of its Emergency and Business Continuity Plans.

"It is currently located at RVLC as that facility would be used both as an emergency rest centre in the event of an emergency incident and/or also as a facility to which Council would relocate its business in the event of the Business Continuity Plan being activated.

"The generator has been operated and tested and will continue to be tested on a regular basis. It has not been used continuously as that is not what it is for - it is a stand-by generator to be used in an emergency situation."

The council spokesperson concluded: "In the event of the generator having to be moved, Council will acquire access to a vehicle that is capable of moving it."