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Lisburn people are invited to have their say on
the future of Wallace Park
BY NEIL GREENLEES
THE people of Lisburn are to be given a say on a
new masterplan for the refurbishment of Wallace Park.
Tuesday night's meeting of the City Council's
Leisure Services Committee agreed the proposals by consultants
Scott Wilson should be made available for wider public
consultation until May 21.
A major opportunity for people to make their
views known will occur on Saturday May 10 when representatives
of the firm will be in the park following the annual Mayor's
Parade.
A report on the public consultation will be
presented to the committee meeting on June 3 and it is hoped
work on part of the scheme - a new children's play area - will
commence in the Autumn.
Paul Tully from Scott Wilson told Tuesday's
meeting Autumn was the optimum time for the construction of a
play area in preparation for the Christmas school holidays and
the better weather in the Spring.
He made it clear he felt this should be a
state of the art facility drawing comparisons with the play
equipment on the Stormont Estate which draws families from a
wide area.
He also showed pictures of play equipment at
a facility in County Roscommon also designed by his company.
Parents have to pay before their children can gain access to
this play area. Mr. Tully said it was hoped a cafe kiosk could
be provided at the play area along with a refurbished multi use
games area.
Another major feature of the Masterplan is
the construction of new changing facilities and public
restrooms. This complex will be located just behind the existing
cricket pavilion and will reduce the number of tennis courts
from six to three. The new building will be in keeping with the
nark's Victorian origins.
CLAIMS Wallace Park no longer suffers from
anti-social behaviour have been described as 'nonsense' by Cllr
Jenny Palmer.
Paul Tully of consultants Scott Wilson said
at meetings between him and the 'Stakeholder' group set up to
deal with the matter, he had been told anti-soclal behaviour was
no longer a problem.
However, he said he was sure even if there was
no anti-social behaviour there was a potential for it to occur.
"I am sure there are people who do not feel safe walking through
the park," he added.
The matter arose as the meeting looked at the
issue of lighting in Wallace Park Mrs. Palmer pointed out the
PSNI had said lighting was 'essential and added she believed the
route between Mageralave Road and Belfast Road must be lit. She
pointed out in winter children walked through the park on their
way to the bus stop at Belfast Road from schools in the
Magheralave area when darkness had already fallen.
Speaking after the meeting Councillor Jonathan Craig welcomed
the masterplan.
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THE OTHER PROPOSALS
- Duckpond - refurbishment of concrete edging,
the replacement of railings and the widening of
the footpath on the northern edge. Overgrown
vegetation will be thinned out to create a sense
of security. Steps will be upgraded and a new
handrail installed. There are also plans for a
decking area at one corner of the pond to make
it easier for people to feed the ducks.
- Bandstand - cleaning and refurbishment of
the structure with the paved area around the
bandstand being widened and levelled to create a
seating/performance area. New access pathways
will also be laid.
- Velodrome - removal of the embankment and
creation of a new sand carpet football pitch.
- Belsize and Magheralave Road entrances -
continuation of kerbline footpath across both
entrances and provision of stone paving for
definition purposes.
- Car park - removal of dog toilet to create
extra spaces. The current boulders will also be
removed and replaced with formal hedging. The
recycling facilities will be retained but set
hack from the car park.
- Park boundary - addition of hedging and
removal of second dog toilet close to Fort Hill.
- Maintenance building - This will be retained
and the compound surrounding it will be
enclosed.
- Other measures - general refurbishment and
edging of paths in the park as well as the
provision of new furniture such as seating and
bins.
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Ulster Star
04/04/2008
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