Crossgar protest at sports centre delay

Crossgar protest at sports centre delay

11 May 2016

CROSSGAR Youth League representatives staged a peaceful protest outside the village’s polling station during last week’s Assembly election.

The protest at Glasswater Primary School was organised amid mounting frustration about the lack of progress in developing a new sports centre in the village. Many people on their way to vote spoke with Youth League officials Paul Teggart, Eddie Craig and Sophie Crothers.

The eagerly anticipated cross-community sports centre would feature a floodlit 3G pitch at St Colmcille’s High School. But there is concern about the lack of progress on the proposed centre and recent confirmation that work to advance the project has no chance of starting until next year at the very earliest.

A feasibility study and economic appraisal were completed by the former Down Council in 2013 but community officials have been told it will be 2017 before the new council will look at the sports project again.

Mr Teggart said he was delighted with the backing Youth League officials received last Thursday, including that of South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and a number of the Assembly candidates.

He made it clear the campaign to secure the new sports facility will continue, alongside the drive to have the Lislea Drive play park fully reopened after it was targeted by arsonists last summer.

“We organised what was a peaceful protest to highlight the growing frustration about the delay in developing a much-needed, cross-community sports complex in Crossgar. The need for the facility has been proven in a village which has been starved of local authority investment over many, many years,” he declared.

“We want the MLAs returned from South Down and our local councillors to put recreation at the top of their agenda and help us deliver a new sports centre in Crossgar for the use of everyone in the community and surrounding area. The people today have been very supportive of what we are trying to achieve which is greatly encouraging. We have no intention of letting up. This will be a facility for everyone.”

Eddie Craig — who joined Mr Teggart in the polling station protest — said the new sports centre can be used by everyone in the area and will be a welcome addition to Crossgar which is a growing area.

He added: “We are keen to see the new sports centre developed, but the full reopening of the Lislea Drive play park as soon as possible is another priority for local people. It is almost a year since it was targeted by arsonists, but it is still not functioning properly. The delay is concerning.”

Miss Ritchie said the people of 

Crossgar have waited a long time for the provision of a community facility and that the time is now right for Newry, Mourne and Down Council to work in collaboration with them to ensure this is provided.