Council asked to back report on Crossgar centre

Council asked to back report on Crossgar centre

5 December 2012

DOWN Council is being urged to allocate funding to finance an economic appraisal on plans for a new sports facility in Crossgar.

Members of the village’s community association met with a senior council official last week to discuss progress on plans for the new multi-million pound development.

A number of potential sites were examined in a feasibility study carried out last year, with the St. Colmcille’s High School site at the Killyleagh Road scoring highly.

Community officials say it’s essential the economic appraisal is carried out as soon as possible in order to cement the proposed new centre’s place in the council’s capital development programme.

They have also highlighted the need for work to progress to identify potential funding sources and are committed to working alongside council officials on this issue.

Community association chairman, Mr. Paul Teggart, has appealed to all Rowallane councillors to back the group’s call for work on the economic appraisal to get underway.

“We believe that a modest sum is needed to finance the appraisal and hope Down Council will agree to this spend which will pave the way for what is a much-needed new facility in Crossgar,” he said.

Mr. Teggart said the proposed development is “critical” to the further regeneration of Crossgar and the surrounding area and that local people are relying on the committed support of local politicians to help deliver it.

Rowallane councillor Terry Andrews plans to raise the request for money to fund the economic appraisal at the next meeting of the local authority’s Recreation and Community Services Committee.

“The proposed sports facility for Crossgar has secured widespread support. The village has not enjoyed an equitable share of local authority investment over the years and there is now an opportunity to address that,” he said.

“Work on an economic appraisal is the next building block in the process to deliver a much-needed facility for the people of Crossgar.”

Meanwhile, the Crossgar Community Association has appointed a new member to oversee its finances and help with the drive to help source funding for the new sports facility. Mr. Paul Teggart said the group is delighted to have Mr. Kevin Mulhern on board.