ALARMED politicians have warned that a multi-million pound contract awarded to a controversial weapons manufacturing company has left its local base vulnerable to terrorist attack.
Thales Air Defence Systems is the UK's second largest defence contractor and operates a base at Lough Mann, near Drumaness.
The company has landed more than £180 million of public money to develop an Air Missile system for the Ministry of Defence.
Local Assembly member, Councillor Willie Clarke, said the arms contract is cause for concern.
"Thales has a highly secretive base at Lough Mann which will play a key role in delivering on this massive arms contract for the British Government.
"The vast majority of people in South Down are opposed to a weapons factory on their own doorstep that would be high on the target list for the growing number of groups determined to attack the Blair regime.
"This latest contract can only serve to heighten the potential threat of terrorist attack. "People living near the armaments factory have already expressed serious concerns at the high level of secrecy that surrounds the complex and the potential dangers of what is being developed there," he said.
Mr. Clarke added that local residents have been directly effected by the presence of the Lough Mann base.
"A large underground section makes up part of the base and residents living nearby have complained of structural cracks appearing in their buildings.
"The announcement of a further £180 million order for a missile system will increase the suspicion locally that weapons are being tested on site," he said.
SDLP International Secretary, Margaret Ritchie MLA, has called on the company to issue a guarantee of residents' safety in the wake of this latest development.
"My heart goes out to the residents living in close proximity to this factory," she said. "They are already penalised because they cannot get planning permission due to a safeguarding area which was created as a direct result of this complex.
"But where is the safeguarding of residents?
"Safety guarantees must be made to them following the awarding of this latest contract. "Where too is their financial recompense for the effects on their properties?," she said. The MLA added that she had visited the Lough Mann base, a visit which cemented her view that the base has no place there.
"This is a rural part of County Down, a missile Assembly base is not in keeping with that environment.
"During my visit I saw the plant's various operations and I appreciate that some local people are employed by the base.
"But, while I do not want to see people losing their jobs, I must question the validity of the Lough Mann base and its impact on the local environment, community and residents," she said.
Mrs. Ritchie added that she intends to write to Thales in order to clarify whether the new contract will result in an extension of the work undertaken at the Lough mann base.
And Green Party representative for County Down, Councillor Raymond Blaney, said he will be asking Down District Council to officially oppose the Thales base at Lough Mann.
"I have drawn up a resolution to put before the Council," he said.
"It asks Down District Council to recognise that Thales Air Defence is an integral part of the International arms trade and to state that it wants no part of that trade in our Council area.
"In particular, it asks the Council to declare total opposition to the assembly and test firing of weaponry at the Lough Mann site and to the use of public money by the Ministry of Defence to subsidise the industry which promotes the continuation of war and instability," he said.