A Northern Ireland council’s ‘Somme pilgrimage’ has been downsized amid concerns it is seen as a ‘junket’ or ‘holiday’ for councillors.
The memorial service to remember Allied soldiers killed in World War I (1914-18) takes place each July in Northern France.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) had agreed in 2015 to send a maximum of eight councillors and supporting staff members to the remembrance service. In 2019, LCCC spent £11,808 and in 2022 an amount of £8,402 on sending a total of 10 delegates to the Thiepval Memorial. There were no visits in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.
Read more: VE Day and the Somme marked by huge crowds in Belfast.
The council’s corporate committee was told by officials this week that “due to significant financial pressures and the need to reduce costs across all services” three financial options were available for the Somme Pilgrimage next year, ranging in cost from £3,000 to £10,000.
Lisburn North Ulster Unionist councillor Nicholas Trimble proposed the lowest amount with a review to be taken after the 2023 council elections.
In support, UUP Downshire East councillor Alex Swan said: “From previous visits by the council to the Somme, I did receive some negative responses from the public about being on a holiday or that it was a councillors’ junket. I want to make it clear that is not how I see it.
“However, if it is the case that the pilgrimage is coming across as some type of holiday to people, then we are not getting this across properly. I am disappointed by people’s perception that it is a holiday, for me it is not a junket. I would be happy to pay to go myself.”
DUP Downshire East Alderman, Uel Mackin alluded to the memorial as serving a great educational purpose for generations to come.
He said: “When I was elected to council I went to the Somme, I wasn’t sure whether I should go or whether I wanted to, but in the end I was glad that I did. I certainly didn’t see it as a holiday, it is a very important time in history, on a huge scale and way beyond words.
“When I came back home I went out to schools and advised them to take their students at some point in their academic lives, it brought history to life. Every council member should be given an opportunity to attend if they wish.
“We talk about saving money which is such an emotive case on something that is very emotive itself. When we are there we are paying our respects to those local families who have been enduring all this time.”
The option to send the Mayor, the chair of corporate and the council CEO was agreed with a potential cost of £3,000 for the 2023 memorial. The Somme Pilgrimage policy will be reviewed again next year.
READ NEXT:
Lisburn car parking concerns raised as railway overhaul will cut free spaces
Belfast Christmas Market ranked one of best in UK by top travel magazine
First look inside Belfast Christmas Market as it opens to public
Lisburn and Castlereagh Council agrees £50,000 spend for King Charles coronation
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
