Council plans for Saintfield centre

Council plans for Saintfield centre

12 December 2012

PLANS for a new £3m community and sports facility in Saintfield are gathering pace.

Down Council — which is spearheading the drive for the new facility — confirmed last week that before the end of the month adverts will be placed looking for design consultants for the scheme.

The news was confirmed at last week’s meeting of the local authority’s Building Control and Estates Committee.

Councillor Robert Burgess said he’s “delighted” consultants will soon be appointed and has no doubt the news will be warmly welcomed by the people of Saintfield.

A site at The Demesne has been earmarked as a potential base for the proposed new centre which is at the heart of the town’s ambitious development plan.

It has been drawn up by Saintfield Town Regeneration Committee and other schemes which feature in the plan include a new play park at The Demesne, helping shop owners upgrade their respective premises, an environmental improvement scheme focusing on Main Street and the Fair Green areas, and new car park and turning area designed to ease traffic congestion at the Academy Primary School at the Listooder Road.

Councillor Burgess said the development plan aims to improve the quality of life in the area and encourage new economic activity into Saintfield.

In addition, he said the overwhelming majority of people in the town are fully supportive of the plan for a new community and leisure facility.

Councillor Burgess said it’s hoped new sports pitches will be constructed as part of the investment in Saintfield.

“I hope that once the design consultants are appointed that it won’t be long before construction work can start on what is a much-needed facility for the people of Saintfield,” he said.

“This is a project people want to see delivered and there is a need for ultra-modern sports provision as the existing shale hockey pitch at The Demesne is no longer up to standard. There is also the need for a modern, floodlit football pitch.”