Council’s £400,000 backing for new park

Council’s £400,000 backing for new park

9 January 2013

THE Lough Park regeneration project in Ballynahinch has got the go-ahead after Down Council agreed to set aside funding of up to £400,000.

The decision — which was made after press were asked to leave the committee meeting on Monday — was the final piece in the jigsaw for the £1.7m project, which has been spearheaded by the Ballynahinch Olympic and Hillcrest Drive Community Partnership.

Money has been allocated to the enterprise via the EU’s Peace III programme and the Transform Your Patch Initiative, with the scheme to be delivered by environmental charity Groundwork NI. Facilities are to include a full-size 3G soccer pitch, community allotment, picnic area, exercise trails and walkways.

At Monday’s meeting Melvynn Waddell, of Groundwork NI, acknowledged that the project would be in jeopardy without this funding and that the deadline for taking advantage of funding opportunities was approaching.

Outlining a number of options for developing the council-owned land, he explained the reasons for their favoured option. “It is noted that the 3G pitch in Option B is ideally positioned close to the Ballynahinch Centre to be able to avail of changing facilities, kitchen facilities etc.” he said.

Councillors decided to go for a second recommended option, however, which located the pitch further away from the community centre.

It is understood this is to allow room for potential commercial development of part of the site.

Back in August the Ballynahinch and Hillcrest Drive Community Partnership claimed the council was delaying progress as it was planning to sell the site to a retailer, but the council denied this stating there were “significant lands available for other potential developments”.

The project was broadly welcomed by councillors at Monday’s meeting, but councillor John Doris also warned “strong management” was required to ensure its long-term success.

Councillors Eamonn Mac Con Midhe and Mickey Coogan said they felt the debate on funding should be held in front of the press but a majority of councillors voted to go “in committee”.

Speaking after the meeting councillor Coogan welcomed the council funding decision but expressed concern that the community centre could be sacrificed in future development of the site. He said that if this was the case it would have to be relocated. He also argued there was no need for the press to be excluded from part of the meeting.

“I am relieved first of all that the scheme can be progressed with this financial commitment but still have concerns over the future of the community centre,” said councillor Coogan.

“I am very concerned that we are dealing with a public asset. I feel that this is not just a financial decision, it is a public decision and the public need to be consulted.”