LISBURN City Council is to provide financial
support to the Harry Ferguson commemorative garden project after
receiving a positive financial appraisal of the scheme.
This action was recommended by the February
meeting of the Economic Development Committee and ratified at
last week's full monthly council meeting.
Members heard the cost of the scheme was
estimated at �167,000. However, a grant of �50,000 had been
secured through 'Building Sustainable Prosperity' funding and a
further �60,000 through contributions from the Harry Ferguson
Celebration Committee.
Speaking at last week's meeting Alderman
Edwin Poots paid warm tribute to the Committee. He said they had
put 'a considerable amount of effort into fundraising for the
project. He also said Harry Ferguson, who invented the Ferguson
tractor known to generations of farmers as 'the fergie', had led
a "revolution in agriculture".
"Where would we be without the farmers? Where
would we be without food on our tables? We should be delighted
to support this," he added.
Councillor William Ward and Alderman Cecil
Calvert also praised Mr. Ferguson's contribution to the
agriculture industry.
Mr. Calvert said he looked forward to the day
a statue of the inventor was unveiled outside the Lagan Valley
Island Civic Centre
