Council Secures Nearly £50,000 to Develop Walking and Cycling Trails
November 21, 2019
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has recently completed the development of new walking and cycling trails in the Billy Neill MBE Country Park with money secured from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and Sport NI.
The NI Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 under Priority 6 (LEADER) provided support funding of £371,996 and the Sport NI ‘Everybody Active Outdoor Spaces’ Programme supplied £120,000 funding.
Alderman Allan Ewart MBE, Chairman of the Lagan Rural Partnership Local Action Group, which supported the rural funding, visiting the site said: “It was good to have the opportunity to meet up with the council to review the recent works completed at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park. This popular location attracts over 30,000 visitors a month and these new trails covering 3.5km will meet the needs of users of all abilities in a peaceful rural setting.”
In addition to the new walking and cycling trails the secured funding contributed to the development of a cycle pump track, 300 additional grasscrete car parking spaces, signage, benches, bins and improved lighting.
Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, who welcomed the representative of the funder to the facility, commented: “The council is continuing to invest in Billy Neill MBE Country Park as a premier outdoor destination with activities for all the family. It is delighted to have the support of DAERA and Sport NI in this respect and their financial contribution toward this phase of the development has been invaluable in recognising our long-term aim. The council is currently developing further plans for the facility in the coming years, which will enhance it as a truly magnificent location to walk, cycle, enjoy the biodiversity rich environment or play sport.”
Patrick O’Toole, Capital Projects Officer, SportNI added: “In the coming years SportNI will focus heavily on making sport accessible for all, whist continuing to support sustained participation in sport through projects like the development of the Billy Neill MBE Country Park. The transformative power of sport can be recognised and valued by promoting accessible infrastructure and providing participation opportunities. These new cycle and walking trail additions at the Billy Neill MBE Country Park will enable people of all ages to get involved in sustained participation in sports such as cycling and running and enjoy the improved mental and physical health benefits associated with them. These activities offer a very simple and informal pathway into the sporting system and offer similar outcomes such as enormous potential health benefits, societal and economic benefits to the citizens of Northern Ireland.”