Public meeting in bid to attract volunteers for Crossgar group

Public meeting in bid to attract volunteers for Crossgar group

6 March 2024

A PUBLIC meeting was held in Crossgar last night in a bid to resurrect the village’s community group.

The meeting held in the War Memorial Community Hall took place one month after the plug was pulled on the cross-community group due to lack of support.

Just three people attended the Crossgar Community Association’s meeting in January with the decision to fold placing a huge question mark over the future of the village’s Halloween and Christmas events and summer festival.

News of the decision to fold the group sparked calls for people to come forward to help and ensure residents not only have a voice through a dedicated group representing and articulating their views, but help organise various events.

Rowallane councillors Callum Bowsie and Terry Andrews, who organised last night’s meeting, say they recognise the need for Crossgar to have an active community group.

The two men have also paid tribute to those who kept the group afloat for many years and who had no option other than to pull the plug, but the Rowallane councillors are hopeful the group can be resurrected.

Ahead of the public meeting, they hoped community-spirited individuals will step forward to help and that there will be renewed spirit and optimism going forward.

Cllr Andrews also paid tribute to the former community group members for all their hard work over many years.

“It was sad to hear the recent news that the group was going to fold as a result of a very low turnout at their recent annual meeting,” he said.

Cllr Andrews said resurrecting the group would allow it to carry on with its good work and to ensure the village’s voice is heard where it matters most, with public bodies and statutory agencies.

Cllr Bowsie said if everyone did a little bit of something that interested them, Crossgar could be an even better place to live.