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A SIMPLE risk assessment, suggested by a leading trade union, could have stopped the congregation of West Winds Community Church being locked out of its usual hall for its Christmas day service, according to a local councillor.
Councillor Steven Irvine said the assessment could have allowed the seasonal service to go ahead, after staffing issues at the council-run facility resulted in the Newtownards congregation holding the service on the doorstep of the Dakota Avenue building.
Mr Irvine said he had been left ‘livid’ by the council’s lone working policy which decreed that without a supervisor, the hall caretaker was not allowed to open up the building on his own to facilitate the service.
Ahead of this year’s festive event, councillors had unanimously agreed that the service go ahead on Christmas day, ‘on the strict proviso’ that council staff were willing to work on the day – mindful that the caretaker had volunteered for the brief Christmas Day job.
Against the backdrop of the controversy, worshippers staged their service outdoors ‘in a
cool, brisk morning’ on Christmas Day, attended by its regular 40 congregation.
They were supported by nearly as many members from the wider community, including Mr Irvine, fellow councillor Richard Smart, and Strangford MP Jim Shannon.
They gathered in worship for about 40 minutes and sang carols under dry skies, but did not
dwell on the reasons behind the al fresco service, according to minister Rev. Stephen Doherty.
The Church of Ireland minister is now calling for a meeting with council bosses to prevent a repeat of the situation next year.
Mr Irvine said he had been ‘livid’ after learning the council was unable to secure the necessary staffing, despite councillors unanimously supporting a Christmas Day opening during its December 17 meeting, prompted by a motion from Mr Smart.
As a result, Mr Irvine had meetings with both the GMB and Unite unions, which, though opposed to Christmas Day working for its members as a general rule, would have supported an employee voluntarily offering to work the national holiday for the short period required.
Unite had said a risk assessment could have been carried out to address health and safety
requirements, lone working and operational risks, information which Mr Irvine had conveyed in an email to the council.
However he said ‘the risk assessment wasn’t done’, nor did he receive a reply.
He did acknowledge that his email had come late, and close to the contentious day, and may have been missed by local authority staff already on leave for the festive period.
However, he said ‘my argument was that there was a director on call 365 days a year’, a factor he believed could have facilitated the centre’s opening, alongside the risk assessment.
“There could have been more done; that’s my grievance,” he said.
Mr Irvine said he had been invited to attend Rev. Doherty’s meeting with council chiefs in the new year.
