Council could give Ballykinlar boost

Council could give Ballykinlar boost

16 May 2012 - by David Telford

DOWN Council could offer a mobile building which is soon to become vacant at its Downpatrick headquarters to people in Ballykinlar.

The council is due to relocate to a new administrative centre at the Downshire Hospital campus at the end of August when the mobile building, located at the rear of the current headquarters, will no longer be required.

Councillor Willie Clarke has suggested the mobile could be offered to people in Ballykinlar for use as a community facility as they bid to have a more permanent facility provided in the village.

At Monday’s meeting of Down Council’s Recreation and Community Services Committee, Councillor Clarke said his suggestion should be explored and that if people in Ballykinlar were not keen on the mobile it could be offered to other community groups.

He continued: “The people of Ballykinlar require a community base which they don’t currently have. A feasibility study was carried out into the provision of a new facility in the village some time ago which cost between £8,000 and £10,000. This is money which could have helped provide temporary accommodation for use by the old and young alike.

“One option the feasibility study looked at was redeveloping the former Kindle Primary School but the South Eastern and Education and Library Board wanted ‘funny money’ for it and nothing happened. The cost of upgrading the former school was also too expensive.”

Councillor Mickey Coogan said the feasibility study options were deemed not to be feasible, but suggested this should not mean other options are not examined.

He said consideration should be given to holding talks with all the various organisations in Ballykinlar in order to find a solution on the way forward.

Earlier this year, the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association outlined plans to meet with local politicians after it emerged the former school building at the Commons Road was on the market for £95,000.

The community group has suggested the local council could make a £25,000 donation towards the purchase price, with officials in Ballykinlar attempting to source the remaining £75,000 from a variety of funders.

It was also confirmed recently that Queen’s University architecture students are currently working on a project to design ways in which the former school could be redeveloped.