Council accused of delaying park plan

Council accused of delaying park plan

22 August 2012 - by Joanne Fleming

A £650,000 regeneration boost for Ballynahinch is in jeopardy it has been claimed, with Down Council considering selling a site set aside for a major new community park.

The claim by Ballynahinch Olympic and Hillcrest Drive Community Partnership comes after plans for the new facility at Lough Park have been finalised and the charity behind the project has warned time is running out for its completion.

Tesco is understood to be among developers interested in the site.

Money has been allocated to the community park enterprise via the EU’s Peace III programme and the Transform Your Patch initiative, with the scheme to be delivered by environmental charity Groundwork NI. Facilities are to include a full size 3G soccer pitch, community allotment, picnic area, exercise trails and walkways, with work due to get underway in February.

Martin Sloan, speaking on behalf of the partnership, said members were “outraged” that the council appeared to be blocking their plans.

“Last week we received an emailed agenda item from the chief executive confirming our worst fears, that they were meeting with developers to discuss the sale of not just the Lough Park, but also the Ballynahinch Community Centre in Windmill Street,” he said.

“Over the past year we became aware that council officers had been meeting with potential buyers of the site and we raised concerns with local councillor Mickey Coogan who had been helping us with the project. He was as surprised as us that this had been going on and arranged a meeting with the council’s chief executive to seek reassurances that no land would be sold that would interfere with our plans for the area.

“We were assured that our plans would be accommodated and that any sale of land would have to be agreed by council. We left the meeting concerned that council officers had their own agenda but still felt confident that no elected member would agree to scupper a successful community initiative.”

Mr. Sloan said that since that meeting council officials had started to request information, some of which he claimed they had since October 2011, and that the partnership had become increasingly concerned.

He pointed out that the council considered the land surplus to requirements several years ago and had sought expressions of interest from individuals and groups with an interest in developing the site for community use.

“The Partnership were the only respondents and this was acknowledged at both the Recreation Committee and full council,” he continued.

“The Lough Park area has been owned by the council for years and apart from some pathway improvements in the past few years, they have neglected the site. We used our initiative to go out and raise the funds to improve the site and now we are in danger of losing our funding because they have their own agenda.

“Have they told anyone what they’re doing? Have they consulted staff or the existing users of this facility, and have they credible plans to make alternative provision in Ballynahinch?”

Councillor Coogan said he shared the concerns of the community group and confirmed that he would be bringing this issue to a meeting of Down Council at the end of August.

“At best the council appear to be dragging their heels on this issue, and certainly there are major concerns,” he said. “The council have been asked to contribute £150,000 but have done nothing on their side.”

A spokeswoman for Down Council said: “Down District Council has agreed in principle to lease sufficient lands to the Ballynahinch Olympic and Hillcrest Drive Partnership to allow their proposed recreational facilities to be accommodated.

“This leaves significant lands available for other potential developments as part of the proposed DSD / Council plans for the improvement of the town.

“The Council has not considered the sale of this site.”