News

£4 Million Investment in Sports Facilities for Holywood

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

It’s an extra special season for sport in Holywood with the announcement of a £4 million pound refurbishment and extension of the facilities at Spafield, Seapark and Sullivan Upper School. Sports including rugby, football, cricket and hockey players will reap the rewards of this exciting new opportunity on which, subject to planning permission, construction will begin in the summer of 2008.

The scheme has been realised by North Down Borough Council working in partnership with a number of local sports clubs and Sullivan Upper School. Mayor of North Down, Councillor Alan Leslie, comments, “I am delighted with the news of this exciting opportunity for the sportsmen and women of Holywood and the surrounding area. Many different sports clubs use the current facilities at Spafield and Seapark but there is no doubt they are in need of refurbishment and this scheme will deliver that and much, much more. Enhancing and opening up the facilities at Sullivan Upper to the public is an additional benefit of this scheme, which will ensure maximum use of the variety of sports pitches during school hours and also in the evenings and at weekends.”

The scheme will be delivered without cost to the ratepayers. It will be financed by the disposal of land at the former Holywood Allotments and the current rugby facilities at Kerr Park.

Mayor Alan Leslie continued, “This scheme is a great example of partnership working for the benefit of local people and I would like to commend all those who have come together to make it happen. It represents great value for money for our ratepayers.”

John Stevenson, Principal of Sullivan Upper, is pleased that the school is an active partner in realising this exciting scheme for Holywood, he comments, “We are delighted to be able to enter into partnership with the Council in this way in order to extend and develop sorts facilities both for Holywood and the school”.

A number of local sports clubs have worked with North Down Borough Council on the scheme. Richard Patterson, President of Holywood Rugby Football Club is one of those actively involved. He comments, “Rugby is a popular sport in Holywood, well supported by local people. It is fantastic that we will soon have two excellent new pitches and associated facilities that will benefit players and spectators. Of course it is not only the rugby fraternity that are benefiting from this new scheme but local footballers, cricketers, etc, and I think I can speak for everyone in saying we are delighted that this scheme is coming to Holywood.”

Council is interested to hear the views of local people on the new sports facilities. A display has been mounted in Queen’s Leisure Complex, Sullivan Place, Holywood, which shows the proposed developments at each site. Comments forms are available to complete at the display, which shall be in place until Tuesday 8 May.

Overview of the new facilities

Spafield
A new sand carpet grass pitch will be laid for Holywood Football Club, which will have floodlighting and fencing all around to meet Irish Football Association standards. A new pavilion is being constructed comprising two team-changing rooms (with shower and toilet provision), a referees’ changing room, spectator toilets and a small committee room.
A new two-storey clubhouse for Holywood Rugby Club will be located on the bank beside the existing public car park. It will have a lounge bar, toilets, four team changing rooms with shower and toilet provision, a referees’ changing room, physio/first aid room and a small gymnasium. The existing rugby pitch will be upgraded with improved drainage. In addition the low-lying area of land adjacent to the GAA pitch will be raised to form a second rugby pitch. New floodlighting and “ball-stop” fencing will be provided to both pitches.

Seapark
A new pavilion will be built at Seapark providing upgraded facilities for use in conjunction with the bowling green and tennis courts. This building will consist of four team-changing rooms (for use by football and cricket teams) and two changing rooms for use by bowls and tennis players. A shared clubroom will also be provided. There will also be public toilets and a small tearoom to service the existing leisure and play facilities in the park.

Sullivan Upper School
A new synthetic grass sports pitch with changing rooms will be provided on land at the rear of Sullivan Upper School. The pitch will be used for hockey and football and will be a sand dressed construction and including floodlighting and fencing. The existing rugby pitch will be repositioned. There will also be a new pavilion comprising six team changing rooms and associated staff facilities. These facilities will be shared between the school and the Council and the public will be able to use the facilities on weekday evenings and weekends.

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