Plans change but it’s still not enough

Plans change but it’s still not enough

2 April 2014

THE Strangford Community Association is continuing to seek a meeting with senior Down Council officials over the redevelopment of the Lower Green in the village.

Both parties are at loggerheads over how the important community space should be

developed and both have produced their own proposals for the area.

While community officials have yet to meet with council officers on the issue, the redevelopment of the Lower Green was discussed between Downpatrick councillors and local authority officials on March 19 when it was agreed to relocate a proposed piece of public art from the Lower Green to the Upper Green.

Welcoming the move, community officials say they are keen to hold face-to-face talks with council officers to discuss “maximising the use” of the Lower Green.

The group’s chairman, Diarmuid Riordan, described this part of the village as a recreational space for local people and visitors.

He highlighted the need for it to be preserved for the annual village festival, launching local boats and providing a safe children’s paddling area.

The community group’s treasurer, Gary Laverty, said the organisation hopes the current negotiations on the future of the Lower Green will achieve success.

“Down Council’s latest compromise removes the formalisation of a car park at the Lower Green but this is not enough. The community needs the maximum amount of green space at this area to facilitate its traditional purposes and those envisaged in the village plan the association has produced,” he added.

Councillor Cadogan Enright, who was tasked with meeting community group officials after Downpatrick councillors discussed the Lower Green issue, said no deal is yet in place between both parties.

“It is clear the latest council proposals do not begin to reflect the Strangford village plan formulated by local people with the help of the Down Rural Area Partnership,” he said. “The local authority’s Mournes Coastal Route tourist initiative for Strangford basically seeks to turn most of the lower green into an ornamental space like the upper green.”

Councillor Enright said community officials are continuing to seek a meeting with Down Council officials in a bid to reach agreement on the way forward, arguing a meeting between both sides will help tourism in Strangford as the village plan developed with the input of many local people is “well thought out.”

Councillor Gareth Sharvin believes a “great opportunity” exists to develop the Lower Green to ensure the area becomes even more important to community life. He said the views of residents on how the area should be developed need to be taken on board by Down Council officials.

“The original council plan shows a safe and secure area, one that families can enjoy without concerns about a child running on to the road. I want an area all of the community can use and a location where small boats can be launched and where people can enjoy the views of Strangford Lough,” he continued.