£1 million boost to build state-of-the-art 4G pitch

£1 million boost to build state-of-the-art 4G pitch

20 February 2019

THE continuing social and economic regeneration of the Ballyhornan area has taken another significant step forward.

Last week, the Ballyhornan and District Community Association secured around £1m to develop a new 4G sports pitch in the village which will be located on land adjacent to a family centre, delivered a number of years ago at a cost of £500,000.

And work is due to start shortly on the construction of 14 new social homes in the village to meet the increasing need for this kind of accommodation in the area.

The new 4G pitch — secured with money from the Social Investment Fund and backing from Celtic Bhoys Football Club — also features floodlights and dedicated changing pavilion, with hopes that the much-needed new facility could open at the end of August or in September.

Community group chairwoman Patricia Curran and Celtic Bhoys chairman Patrick Moore are delighted the money to develop what will be a much-used community facility has been secured.

Work to secure the new pitch started seven years ago when representatives from the community group attended a meeting in Downpatrick to discuss the Social Investment Fund, set up to provide financial support for projects aimed at tackling deprivation.

While there were a number of highs and lows over subsequent years, the green light for the project to proceed came on Monday of last week, with Newry, Mourne and Down Council now seeking expressions of interest from contractors interested in carrying out the work.

“The process did drag on for a lot longer than we ever could have imagined but we got there in the end and are really delighted the project can now proceed,” Mrs Curran said.

“This is a community facility which will be available for use seven days a week. Planning permission was secured some time ago and now all we need is for contractors to be appointed to deliver the new pitch.”

Mrs Curran said last week’s meeting when it was confirmed that the money for the new pitch and sports pavilion had been secured only lasted a matter of minutes, ending years of campaigning.

“It has taken considerably longer to reach this stage but we made it in the end,” said a relieved community group chairwoman.

“We were so fortunate to have the help of former council official Liam McLernon who was absolutely terrific and we simply cannot thank him enough. Celtic Bhoys has been unwavering with its support as has the County Down Rural Community Network and our local politicians, in particular, Naomi Bailie and Dermot Curran.

“It was a real team effort to reach this stage and we can now look forward to this August or September when we hope the pitch will open to provide a new community asset for not only Ballyhornan, but the entire surrounding area.”

Mrs Curran said that while the project came agonisingly close to being formally signed off on several occasions and the community group had to complete a mountain of paper work, the collective efforts of all those involved finally paid off.

She explained the community group will mange the bookings for the new pitch, the use of which will generate an income stream that could be used to help finance future schemes in the area.

“While Celtic Bhoys will have first call to use the pitch for games and training, we have already been contacted by other sports teams keen to use it,” explained Mrs Curran.

The community group had to buy some additional land to help guarantee the new pitch development which will also create two new jobs.

Mrs Curran added: “We are delighted to have reached this stage of the project. Thanks to everyone who worked alongside us for so many years to deliver this project. It has all been worth it in the end.”

Cllr Curran praised everyone involved in the new sports pitch development, reserving particular praise for the Ballyhornan community group.

“Under Patricia Curran’s leadership this group has delivered for Ballyhornan. First we had the new family centre and now a new sports pitch, with work also scheduled to start on new social housing. This is all terrific news and I believe that once the new pitch opens, it will act as a catalyst for future investment in this area,” he continued.

“Newry, Mourne and Down Council is placing a lot of emphasis on encouraging people to get fitter and be more active and developments such as this will help with that drive.”