Killyleagh legion to become new town community facility

Killyleagh legion to become new town community facility

13 June 2012

THE Killyleagh Development Association has purchased the town’s former Royal British Legion building to develop a major new community facility.

Funding to secure the Catherine Street premises was provided by the Down Rural Area Partnership and local people are to be asked for their ideas on what the building and a large garden area at the rear could be developed to provide.

Development Association officials have suggested the 9,000 sq. ft building — which occupies a prime site in the heart of the town — could be redeveloped to provide new youth facilities. Their other suggestions include a possible base for a new community library and rooms for use by local groups.

Formed two decades ago, the Killyleagh Development Association (KDA) now owns seven commercial premises in the town following the acquisition of the Catherine Street building.

KDA member, Eddie Rea, said the organisation has a history of spearheading successful regeneration projects in the town and has worked closely on a number of projects with the private and public sectors.

He said the acquisition of the former Royal British Legion premises provides the KDA with an “exciting opportunity” which it wants local people to feed into.

“We decided to purchased the Catherine Street property as it was viewed as an ideal building to convert into an additional community centre in Killyleagh, one which local people will own and manage,” he explained.

“We have our ideas about how the building could be developed and we now want to hear the views of residents. I have no doubt the scale of the building offers them a major opportunity to create something really special.”

He continued: “The building offers a brilliant opportunity to develop something for the people of Killyleagh. There is a huge garden at the rear and suggestions to develop tennis courts have already been made.

“The garden area also offers the potential to develop horticultural activity and classes. We want people to float all their ideas with us so we can examine them and see what’s possible.”

Mr. Rea said the Killyleagh and District Family History Society has expressed an interest in utilising space in the new KDA building and has no doubt that other groups will come forward.

He also suggested part of the Catherine Street building could be used as a tourist information point from where local volunteers could take visitors on a tour of the town, pointing out its many attractions.

Mr. Rea added: “The development of the building will be very much driven by the local community and the KDA wants to hear what people have to say about how the premises can be developed. The vast amount of space which is available provides a huge opportunity for local people to shape a major new community asset.”