DUP alderman Robert Adair has announced plans to visit every site maintained by Ards and North Down Council on the Ards peninsula and compile a list of maintenance issues. He will present that list to the council's chief executive. Adair says the area is being left to ruin.

The move follows complaints from residents about lack of proper maintenance. Adair cited three specific locations. At Ballywalter's historic Lime Kilns site, he said overgrowth needs to be cut back and seating areas need painting. At Greyabbey Cemetery, he said trees are growing over headstones and could cause damage to graves dating back hundreds of years. He noted the cemetery is no longer used for new burials but is maintained by the council and attracts tourists.

Adair said visitors from almost 60 cruise ships came to Greyabbey last year, including people from the United States and elsewhere. He added that the council had told him maintenance would be scheduled after the nesting season, but the site had not previously been in this condition.

At Bayview car park in Kircubbin, Adair said the area is in a state of disrepair with broken walls and seating that needs fixed. He said it is popular with tourists, families having picnics and people gathering mussels.

Adair said the council should carry out routine inspections and implement proactive rather than reactive maintenance. He intends to visit every council-maintained site on the peninsula, produce a study of maintenance needs and present it to the chief executive.