Council urged to act over Crossgar sports plan

Council urged to act over Crossgar sports plan

DOWN Council has been urged to add a proposed community sports centre in Crossgar to its capital development programme.

With the local authority due to go out of business when it merges with its neighbour in Newry and Mourne next year, the Crossgar Community Association wants to see plans for a new £3m project in the village advanced.

Community group officials are concerned that unless the local authority agrees to include the scheme in the capital programme and increase its borrowing limit accordingly, the multi-million pound plan could face a lengthy delay.

They want Down Council to give an undertaking that it fully supports the project in order to kick-start the process to secure planning approval for the project to allow approaches to be made to potential funders.

A feasibility study has identified St. Colmcille’s High School as the preferred option for the new sports centre which would feature a 3G pitch and sports hall capable of accommodating four badminton courts. Lislea Drive has been earmarked for a £700,000 spend to provide a number of new facilities including a skate park and outdoor trail.

Kevin Mulhern and Philip Irvine, who are heading a sub-group appointed by the Crossgar community group to help advance the combined £4m investment, plan to address local politicians in June to have the cash earmarked to help finance the scheme.

Both men have welcomed the completion of the economic appraisal for the new sports and community facility describing it as the “right option, at the right time, for the right reasons.”

Mr. Mulhern continued: “For many years, Crossgar has been the neglected region of the district and it is now critical that Down Council fully supports these much-needed facilities. With over 12,000 people expected to benefit from the new centre, the people of Crossgar and its hinterland will not settle for anything less.

“The Community Association is aware that there still remain significant hurdles to overcome, but are fully committed to working in partnership with Down Council to release monies from other sources to support the vital project.”

Mr. Mulhern said Down Council’s “long overdue and much-needed investment in Crossgar” is one that will have a significant impact on the health, well-being, educational and social needs of the local population. He suggested it will also be a fitting legacy for the local authority as it prepares to merge with Newry and Mourne Council.

Mr. Mulhern also praised local politicians for their “unstinting support” in the project, commending them for their tireless work supporting the proposed scheme and calling on them to ensure funding is identified at the next council meeting in June “to help realise Crossgar’s dream.”

Mr. Irvine said the sub-group plans to meet with Rowallane councillors and the leaders of Down Council’s political parties in a bid to secure support to advance the Crossgar scheme.

“Our priority is delivering a sports and community facility for everyone in Crossgar and the surrounding area. This is a much-needed development in a village which has secured no major local authority expenditure over the years,” he continued.

Mr. Irvine said the village’s community group is committed to working with Down Council to help deliver the project and to approach potential funders.

He added: “We are not sitting back and telling the council to deliver this scheme. We are active and willing partners and will do everything we can to make this happen.

Partnership is the key going forward but we need a firm commitment from Down Council that it is with us. Crossgar is crying out for this much-needed facility which we want to see delivered.”