Ballykinlar centre due within months

Ballykinlar centre due within months

21 June 2017

A NEW community facility is expected to be provided in Ballykinlar within months.

After years of community campaigning for such a facility, Newry, Mourne and Down Council is close to providing one at the site of the former Kindle Primary School.

Council officials are near to concluding a deal with the Education Authority to purchase the Ballykinlar site where they plan to relocate former building formerly used by the Fire and Rescue Service in Downpatrick.

The sectional building, which the local authority sold to the Fire and Rescue Service when it vacated the Strangford Road site several years ago, can be bought back for just one pound.

At a meeting in Downpatrick on Monday night, councillors were told the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association has been working alongside the County Down Rural Community Network on developing a range of new activities in the village, but has been hindered by the lack of facilities.

Council officials hope to conclude the purchase of the Commons Road site shortly and explained the former building is in good condition and contains toilets, a kitchen and large meeting spaces.

While some internal modifications will be required to make the building suitable for the community group, council officials say relocating the structure will involve some dismantling and reassembly work. 

They insist relocating the building from Downpatrick can provide a new community facility at a cost which would be “significantly lower” than the provision of a new-build and in a much shorter timeframe.

Councillors agreed at Monday night’s meeting of the Active and Healthy Communities Committee to purchase the Strangford Road building for a nominal fee subject to a structural survey and that the structure is suitable for transport to Ballykinlar. Costings are also to be sought for the relocation and reassembly works, including connecting the building to main services.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Councillor Dermot Curran are “delighted” the provision of a much-needed new community facility in Ballykinlar is at last within touching distance and said the local authority proposal will be warmly welcomed.

Mr McGrath said work to deliver a new community hub has taken place over many years, with Councillor Curran playing a lead role.

“The state of the old school on the site was very dangerous and I undertook work to have this building made safe and eventually demolished before the land was acquired by the local authority,” he continued. “Whilst a new build on the site might be a few years away yet, the relocation of the new temporary building will allow critical local community activities to take place.”

Councillor Curran said there is a need for a new community facility in Ballykinlar to help revitalise the village and provide everyone in the area with a much-needed venue which would be capable of hosting a range of activities.

He said while previous attempts to acquire the Commons Road site proved unsuccessful, it is now clear this hurdle will finally be overcome and that the property can be secured for community use.

He added: “Ballykinlar has missed out on major public sector investment over many years and I hope that will soon change with plans for a much-needed community hub developed and brought to fruition in what is an expanding village. While a temporary structure will shortly be in place, I hope a permanent building can be developed at some point in the future.

“Feasibility studies have clearly identified the need for community facilities in Ballykinlar and I hope these will be in place sooner rather than later. It is important the needs of young people in the village are catered for in the new facility.”