Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has defended its planned £400,000 spend on new windows for its offices at the Grange in Omagh.
The council plans to install triple glazing at its Lisanelly Avenue premises at the six figure cost to local ratepayers, the Ulster Herald reported this week.
Campaign group the Taxpayers’ Alliance had criticised the council spending after Halloween fireworks and Christmas lights switch on events were cancelled in the district last year due to financial pressures.
A spokesperson for the local council said the move from single glazed windows to triple glazed represented value for money.
"Council approved a business case for the replacement of windows in The Grange, Omagh at the January 2023 Regeneration and Community Committee meeting," the spokepserson said.
"The installation of 111 new energy efficient windows across The Grange building represents an investment in a more sustainable approach to asset management and will contribute to the target set out within the Council's Climate Change and Sustainable Development Strategy for a net zero District by 2042.
"In the short term, the project will also provide essential health and safety improvements for users of the building including staff, visitors and general public and result in reduced running (energy) costs on an ongoing basis."
Joe Ventre, digital campaign manager at the TaxPayers' Alliance said the local council was more committed to ‘fancy refurbs’ than events for the local community.
"The council seems more committed to fancy refurbs than fun festivities,” he said.
"While taxpayers are happy to see savings, cancelling Christmas to save a few pennies seems unnecessarily harsh.
"Council bosses should look for efficiencies elsewhere."
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