Ageing playing fields will be rejuvenated by £44,000 plan

Ageing playing fields will be rejuvenated by £44,000 plan

28 January 2015

DOWN Council is to spend £44,000 to address a major flooding problem at the Langley Road playing fields in Ballynahinch.

The work will focus on the two football pitches which are rendered unplayable on a regular basis after periods of heavy rain.

Confirmation work is to begin to tackle the drainage problem came at Monday night’s meeting of Down Council when it was revealed additional improvements costing in the region of £33,000 will be carried out a later stage.

Council officials said £50,000 has been included in this year’s budget allowing the local authority to seek tenders to have the work carried out to cure the drainage problem.

The investment has been welcomed by Ballynahinch councillors Garth Craig and Walter Lyons who say curing the drainage problem provides a major boost for Temple Rangers which has to play many of its ‘home’ games away from Langley Road.

Councillor Craig said it is clear from the detail in a report on the extent of the drainage problem that “extensive work is needed to cure it.”

He continued: “There are many problems which have to be addressed but the report provides the foundation on which to move forward and cure a persistent problem which has frustrated sports clubs for many years.

“Down Council staff work hard to maintain the pitches but they are powerless to do anything when the surface is flooded, meaning scheduled soccer matches have to be moved to a different venue.”

Councillor Craig believes the improvement to the sports pitches may have to be carried out on a phased basis, but is confident the primary drainage work could be carried out even if the weather was poor.

Councillor Lyons said he is pleased contractors are to be appointed to make a start on improving the drainage and that £50,000 has been earmarked to finance what he described as a “serious issue.”

He also suggested one issue that needs to be teased out is what to do with the shale hockey pitches at Langley Road which are no longer used by Ballynahinch Hockey Club.

“Perhaps there is merit in exploring the provision of tennis courts or a running track at this location given there is a vast flat surface which Down Council owns. There is also existing floodlighting,” explained Councillor Lyons.

“In the meantime, I hope contractors will be on site soon to begin work on the eagerly-awaited drainage project which will be warmly welcomed by all the soccer teams which play at Langley Road.”