By Violet Brown
ARDS and North Down Council may dip into the property market to advance the decade-long battle for new sporting facilities for Portavogie.
The council is considering buying a property adjacent to the football pitch on New Harbour Road to facilitate the development of a new 3G pitch in the village.
The campaign to get an all weather pitch to meet the needs of the burgeoning sporting community on the Ards peninsula began over a decade ago when the council agreed to upgrade the grass pitch to an all weather surface and install modern facilities.
The community has not given up on its ambition to provide 21st century facilities for the youngsters to train and play on even though the project has been beset with obstacle after obstacle.
The latest blow was the eleventh hour decision by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to block planning permission for the project by requesting amendments to the application to provide better vehicle access and car parking for the site.
A council spokesman said the new DfI requirement is for the entrance road to be widened, alongside a pedestrian path and splay lines onto the public roadway.
To satisfy those conditions it appears the only way forward is for the council to secure land and one of the ways being examined is the purchase of the large detached house.
A four bedroom property at 10 New Harbour Road, adjacent to the grounds, is currently on the market. A council spokesperson confirmed: “Council is aware the property is for sale and has been in contact with the estate agents.”
Peninsula alderman Robert Adair said the council needs to adopt a ‘can do’ approach to deliver the beleaguered project.
“The community’s need is great and it must be delivered,” he said. “Over 250 young people currently play at Portavogie and it is crucial to their development that they have up-to-date facilities.”
Expressing disappointment that the council could not challenge DfI’s objections, Mr Adair believed it had been worthwhile to do so as they had to ensure they explored all the options available.
“There needs to be no stone left unturned to deliver this vital community project,” he added.
“The pitch which is there currently has come to the end of its life and despite intensive maintenance, some home matches have not been able to have been played on it,” Mr Adair said.
“We need to move forward to secure these upgraded facilities.”
There were, Mr Adair added, a number of land options available which the council must explore and engage with landowners and deliver this project.
“There have been many hurdles and setbacks but we must not lose sight of our goal to deliver a 21st century facility of sporting excellence for Portavogie and the wider Ards peninsula,” he said.
