Council to seek funding for Ardglass and Crossgar play parks

Council to seek funding for Ardglass and Crossgar play parks

21 August 2013

DOWN Council is to search its reserves for £66,000 to secure new play parks in Ardglass and Crossgar.

Ardglass Residents Group and Crossgar and Area Community Association have both applied for £100,000 from the Down Rural Area Partnership (DRAP) but urgently need to secure £33,000 match funding for each project to make the play parks a reality.

Janine Connolly from Down Rural Community Network said the funding needed to be secured by October 1.

“Local people feel that the current play parks are dated, run down and not up to modern day safety standards,” she said.

“It is thought the projects will not only deliver a safe and enhanced play amenity for local families, but will ultimately improve their quality of life, bringing social, health, cultural, environmental and economic benefit to the villages.

“The groups urge council to support these projects to address what local people see as the biggest need in rural villages.

“If match funding commitment is not received by October 1 then the funds will be reallocated. The play park projects will not go ahead and funds will be lost to Down District.”

During a lengthy debate following the presentation, councillor Carmel O’Boyle said that while there was “not enough money in the pot” the council needed to do all it could to support community groups in the smaller towns and villages.

“Remember your power here,” she told fellow members. “If you make a decision officers will be tasked with carrying it out.

“Our focus should be on the small community groups that have been overlooked.”

Councillors noted several similar groups were due to make funding applications to the council and agreed to investigate if a significant sum could be made available for a small projects budget.

Councillors agreed to consider what funding reserves the council had to legally keep in place and what could be used to fund small projects over the coming months.

The issue was referred to their Policy and Resources Committee for further investigation.