The 'Tolerton Sports Zone' Opens at Seymour Hill

March 29, 2019

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is delighted to officially open the new £600,000 ‘Tolerton Sports Zone’ at Seymour Hill, which has been named after long serving elected member Councillor Margaret Tolerton.

This new Multi-use Games Area (MUGA) with floodlighting, changing rooms and car parking is the final phase of the Seymour Hill & Conway Estates Community Audit & Development Strategy on the site of the former Dunmurry High School.

Alderman Paul Porter, Chairman of the Council’s Leisure & Community Development Committee, speaking at the official opening, said: “It is a pleasure to open this new state-of-the-art facility that will provide sporting and recreational opportunities for residents of all ages in the local area.  The Council agreed to name it after Councillor Tolerton in recognition of her long service to the Seymour Hill community since 2007. 

“Councillor Tolerton was the first Chair of the Seymour Hill Conway Community Plan Steering Group and she worked diligently to have the strategy developed.  This included the new social housing in the area and new Play Park built by Connswater Homes and now this MUGA constructed by the Council.  Margaret has been a great advocate for this area and she always brought the community leaders together with the relevant statutory agencies to enhance the service provision within Seymour Hill and Conway. 

“Over the years as a personal friend and colleague I have seen first-hand all the hard work that Margaret does for the Seymour Hill Conway community.  It is an honour as the Chairman to name this new sports zone in respect of Margaret Tolerton.  It provides a communal space for the residents to host community events and also undertake activities and team sports to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community; all of which the council champions across its communities.”

The MUGA, which is secured behind fencing, has been constructed on land gifted by Connswater Homes Housing Association to the Council for the development of community facilities.  The MUGA will be managed on behalf of the Council by the Seymour Hill & Conway Community Association.

Councillor Tolerton added: “I was humbled when I heard of the decision to name this sporting facility after me.  I would like to thank my fellow elected representatives and the Seymour Hill & Conway Community Association for making this suggestion. Seymour Hill is very close to my heart as I got to know both the residents and the community leaders during my time as a councillor.  It is a lovely caring community and I am delighted to see this project completed; and it will provide a dedicated space for the local primary school to use during the day if needed.  It seems so long ago since we developed the strategy but a lot of fantastic work has been undertaken in the last six years; and I would like to thank everyone involved across the community, voluntary and statutory sectors.”