Ballykinlar meeting to hear of Kindle plans

Ballykinlar meeting to hear of Kindle plans

19 September 2012

A MEETING is being held in Ballykinlar this evening to discuss plans to acquire the former Kindle Primary School to provide a new community facility.

Down Council last week agreed to hold further talks with the South Eastern Education and Library Board about acquiring the vacant Commons Road building which is currently for sale.

Tonight, members of the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association are to meet with councillor Dermot Curran to talk about the key role they can play.

The community group wants to be fully involved in the drive to secure the former school for community use and its representatives are to be invited to address local politicians in the near future.

Ahead of tonight's meeting, Councillor Curran said while it's still early days and a lot of hard work and negotiating lies ahead to acquire the former school, the community group has a key role to play.

"The community group can target a range of funders in a bid to secure the money that will be needed to renovate the former school, if Down Council can secure its ownership," he said.

"The South Eastern Board has confirmed it wants to provide youth services in Ballykinlar and has suggested it would rent space at the former school if it was under council ownership. This is a positive development."

Councillor Curran, who has previously met with members of the Ballykinlar community group, described its members as "enthusiastic" and has no doubt they have an important role to play in the weeks and months ahead.

He added: "The group has already secured funding to appoint consultants to look at how Ballykinlar can be developed and this is vital moving forward. Securing the former school site is an important step towards regenerating the village."