£3m Saintfield centre on track

£3m Saintfield centre on track

15 July 2015

PLANS for a new £3m community and leisure centre in Saintfield are on track, according to Strangford MP, Jim Shannon.

The MP made the comments after meeting with Newry Mourne and Down Council chief executive, Liam Hannaway, following a series of rumours which have appeared to suggest the project could be scaled down or axed.

Mr Shannon led a delegation of councillors, regeneration officials and townspeople to meet Mr Hannaway in Downpatrick and was pleased with the outcome.

“After some eight years of deliberation, we have support of all the sporting groups in Saintfield, cricket, hockey, gaelic sports and football as well as the full support of the Development Association for a community and leisure centre, and that could be valued at approximately £3m,” said Mr. Shannon. 

“Unsurprisingly over 900 people from Saintfield have called for leisure and community services,” he added.

“Based on a good economic plan, Down Council had supported the request and the meeting today was to go over the delays on this since January. 

“Liam Hannaway has approved and given an assurance that the lines of communication will now be open, good news for a very deserving project that will give Saintfield the community centre and leisure facilities that all the sport clubs in the area so desperately need. 

“Now the sports clubs and the Saintfield Development Association can more forward together. The need is there, and the need has been proven, now let’s move forward together,” said Mr Shannon.

Rowallane councillor William Walker said Mr Hannaway gave a lot of reassurance that the project was still on the council’s capital programme.

“There is going to be another needs assessment to see what is actually needed and I have asked that if the new centre does not need the £3.4m originally budgeted for then the remainder of that money is used in the Saintfield area,” he said. “Something like the new pitch which Saintfield hockey club desperately needs.

“The chief executive gave an assurance that when they do this economic appraisal that Saintfield will get what it is entitled to,” he added.