Crossgar group may protest over lack of village sports centre

Crossgar group may protest over lack of village sports centre

13 April 2016

COMMUNITY officials in Crossgar may stage a protest outside Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s headquarters as frustration grows about the lack of progress in developing a new sports centre in the village.

The cross-community project would also feature a floodlit 3G pitch, with land at St Colmcille’s High School’s Killyleagh Road campus identified as the preferred development site.

Last month, Crossgar Community Association held a public meeting which was attended by local politicians to discuss the lack of progress on the sports centre development and why a contractor had not been appointed to replace play equipment at the Lislea Drive playground which was destroyed in an arson attack last summer.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie — who undertook to raise both issues with council officials on behalf of the community group — informed them by letter last week that the local authority will not be looking to support any new sports development until 2017. The MP’s letter also confirmed a contractor to replace the damaged play equipment has not yet been appointed.

Frustrated at the lack of progress, community group chairman Paul Teggart declared Crossgar ratepayers have been let down by what he described as “unfair decisions.” 

He said a feasibility study into the proposed sports project which was carried out several years ago recognised the overwhelming need and support for such a facility, while an economic appraisal, costing £15,000, was also completed.

Mr Teggart claimed the needs of Crossgar have “once again” been set aside by the new super council,  and he invited the organisation’s chief executive, Liam Hannaway, to visit the village and speak with young people in particular about the lack of progress on delivering a new sports centre.

“There is an Assembly election on May 5 and I would ask all voters in Crossgar to vote for the party which promises to improve facilities in Crossgar,” he said.

“At the next meeting of the community group on May 19 I will be proposing that we protest outside the council’s headquarters and also hand over a letter stating our lack of confidence in the local authority’s sports development section.”

Mr Teggart said he also wants the community group to register its concern about the lack of progress in Crossgar’s new sports facility with Stormont sports minister, Carál Ní Chuilín.

He declared: “It is time the people of Crossgar voiced their anger against Newry, Mourne and Down Council which has promised everything, but never delivered the goods. The people of Crossgar only want the same as every other community and feel it is time this council and its elected members acted on their behalf.”

Mr Teggart added: “We were assured the play park would be fully refurbished by the end of March but this has not yet happened. The Crossgar Youth League, which stages its games at Lislea Drive, kicks off on May 24 and it was hoped a community party would be held to coincide with the reopening of the play park. I hope this will still be able to happen.

“We are very disappointed at the lack of progress to provide a much-needed sports centre in the village and want to see money being spent on projects in our area. We need a new sports complex which will benefit our schools, sports and community groups. 

The need for it has already been proven.”