Crossgar leisure blueprint to be completed before Christmas

Crossgar leisure blueprint to be completed before Christmas

2 October 2013

WORK on an economic appraisal for a new community/leisure centre in Crossgar is due to be completed by Christmas.

The news was confirmed following a public consultation event in the village last Friday night which was attended by over 60 people from a range of community and sports groups across the village.

The meeting, which was also attended by local politicians, took the form of a workshop with people asked where they believe the new centre should be located and what facilities it should provide.

Mr. Philip Irvine, the secretary of the Crossgar Community Association, said the group was delighted with the huge turnout last Friday night. He said it’s clear local people have a major interest in the provision of new community and leisure facilities in their area.

“The completed study will pinpoint the preferred location for the proposed new centre which will allow the community group to begin the process of identifying potential funders,” he explained.

“Many people have expressed an interest in having a new sports hall which could accommodate up to four badminton courts in addition to a number of ancillary rooms which could be used by a number of organisations, including the South Eastern Regional College to provide classes in the village.”

Mr. Irvine said a facility similar in size to the Ballymote Sports and Well-being Centre in Downpatrick is the kind of building people in Crossgar would like to see provided.

“The community group was very impressed with the number of people who took part in last Friday’s workshops which were hosted by Otium Leisure which carried out the initial feasibility study into the provision of new sports and community facilities in the village.

“The consultants are aware of the issues and we look forward to seeing the completed economic appraisal around Christmas to enable us to start targeting potential funders.”

Mr. Irvine said it’s clear Friday night’s consultation event at the War Memorial Community Hall will play a major role in helping shape the delivery of new facilities in the village.

Councillor Terry Andrews has praised everyone involved in Friday’s event and who took time to have a say in the facilities they would like to see provided in the village.

“Lots of ideas and opinions were put forward, all of which will be collated by consultants and outlined in the completed economic appraisal,” he explained.

“The number of people who took part in the consultation event underlines their determination for much-needed facilities in Crossgar.”