New summer seat at Hillfoot Crescent park

New summer seat at Hillfoot Crescent park

28 August 2019

NEWRY, Mourne and Down Council is to install a new summer seat at the Hillfoot Crescent play park in Ballynahinch within the next few weeks.

The confirmation follows a public meeting held last week by local mothers who complained about the poor state of the play park.

A spokesman for Newry, Mourne and Down Council said that staff had visited the Hillfoot Crescent play park and another play park in Ballynahinch in order to clean both areas.

He also confirmed a statement in last week’s Down Recorder from council vice-chairman Terry Andrews that the play park was being considered for a major upgrade by the council in its play strategy over the next two years.

The spokesman said: “The Hillfoot Junior and Toddler Play Park, Ballynahinch, is part of a wider play park consolidation process currently being undertaken by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. 

“The play park consolidation process is scheduled for 2020-2021 in line with the council’s play strategy.”

He said that a summer seat had been ordered and would be installed within weeks after council staff had visited the play park and noted that a summer seat park was scorched.

He added: “Staff from the council’s cleansing section visited both play park sites in Ballynahinch this week and cleaned the respective play areas. Grounds maintenance staff from the council will be spraying the weeds in the both play parks in the coming days.”

Ursula Jess, secretary of Hillfoot Crescent and Windmill Residents Association, welcomed the announcement.

She said: “We welcome the news that a new summer seat is to be installed soon along with some cleaning and weed spraying. 

“However, we would like there to be one more summer seat installed in the toddler play area as parents and childminders need to sit to keep their eyes peeled on the little ones to ensure their safety.”