Crossgar still waiting for £3m sports centre says association head

Crossgar still waiting for £3m sports centre says association head

24 February 2016

THE Crossgar Community Association is organising a special meeting next week to discuss the future of the village’s proposed £3.4m sports complex.

Concern is mounting that progress on the multi-million pound proposal is not being made and Newry, Mourne and Down Council has not factored the cost of the project into its capital programme.

The former Down Council made £15,000 available to finance an economic appraisal into the proposed scheme, with a site adjacent to St Colmcille’s High School the preferred location for many people.

Officials from the community group held a number of meetings with former Down Council staff and also held talks with the local authority’s former chief executive John Dumigan in 2013 to discuss the scheme.

Community group chairman, Paul Teggart, said the findings of the economic appraisal were endorsed by senior council officials for the proposed cross-community complex.

But he is concerned that little progress has been made and that Newry, Mourne and Down Council is planning to spend £14.5m on a new leisure centre in Downpatrick and £3.2m on a new sports and community centre in Saintfield.

“Money has been earmarked for a new leisure facility in Newcastle, but there is nothing in the council plan for the sports complex promised for the ratepayers in Crossgar,” declared Mr Teggart.

The community official said during Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s recent meeting to strike the new district rate, councillor Terry Hearty explained there is a £27m budget earmarked for district schemes.

“What about giving some of this money to Crossgar and provide the sports complex the people were promised? Crossgar has been left behind in terms of recreation facilities. The only recreation facility the local council provides in the village is a play park at Lislea Drive. There are no indoor facilities,” declared Mr Teggart.

“I would like to pay tribute to all the sports clubs in Crossgar who rely on a building in Downpatrick Street owned by the church for changing and meetings. There are no recreation facilities within the building, only a few rooms.”

Mr Teggart said South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and all Rowallane councillors have been invited to attend next Thursday night’s meeting which starts at 7.30pm in the community centre.

He added: “Every councillor has been contacted and asked to attend and the people of Crossgar will be insisting on their support for the village’s new sports complex. This meeting is open to everyone and we hope it will be well supported to discuss what is a very important issue.”