Community seeks speedy rebuilding of fire-hit play area

Community seeks speedy rebuilding of fire-hit play area

22 July 2015

COMMUNITY officials in Crossgar are meeting with local council officials next week to discuss the recent arson attack on the village’s only play park.

The £135,000 facility at Lislea Drive was targeted by arsonists in the early hours of July 12 when a tyre was set alight, causing tens of thousands of pounds of damage.

A play tower, bench and rubber play surface were destroyed in the attack which outraged community officials, residents and local politicians.

Last week, over 70 residents gathered at Lislea Drive to signal their support for the play park and send a clear message to those responsible for the arson attack that their actions will not be tolerated.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, who described the attack on the play park as an act of “mindless vandalism,” has arranged a meeting with senior Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials on Friday morning of next week to discuss measures to have the facility repaired as soon as possible.

Miss Ritchie said the attack was “utterly shameful” and believes those responsible for targeting the play park do not understand or care that local councils are running a tight budget and cannot easily afford to replace facilities such as the one they destroyed in Crossgar.

Her efforts to secure a meeting with council officials has been welcomed by Crossgar Community Association chairman Paul Teggart, who has also severely criticised those who targeted the play park.

Mr Teggart will join with Miss Ritchie and community group representatives Philip Irvine, Clare Keenan, Kate Gormley, Eddie Craig and Michael Sheppard for next Friday’s meeting.

“Our main goal is to have this every popular play park repaired as soon as possible,” said the community group chairman.

“We hope council officials will do everything in their power to ensure a contractor can be appointed quickly so children can start using the facility again. The play park is a very important recreational facility for many young families in the village.”

Mr Teggart said the Lislea Drive play park is used by children who attend a number of local

 primary schools and many play groups in the village.

“The play park now resembles a burnt out site and many people are very angry and upset at what has happened. The fact over 100 residents gathered last week in a show of support for the facility demonstrates what it means to them and the village. What has happened is devastating but we are determined to do all we can to ensure repair work starts immediately,” he declared.

Mr Teggart said one mother who was among the large of crowd of residents who gathered at the play park on Tuesday of last week explained her son suffers from autism and while he cannot talk, when she collects him from school in Downpatrick he points to the Lislea Drive play park as they drive past.

“The woman told me when her son gets out of the car he runs to the play park and is very contented while there. When he went to the play park gate last week he could not understand why it was locked and he could not use his slide. I hope whoever was responsible for this act of wanton vandalism are apprehended and feel the full force of the law.”

Mr Teggart said community officials hope the play park will be fully operational as soon as possible and that the young boy and hundreds of other children will be able to use the facility once again.

He has also appealed to anyone who has any information about who may have been involved in the arson attack to contact  police so those responsible can be brought to justice.

The community group chairman confirmed Crossgar Youth League will continue to hold its games at Lislea Drive and that the village’s annual community festival at the same venue will proceed as planned on August 1.