12th '˜Field' at People's Park?

Around 1,500 Orangemen and women could be descending on The People's Park this '˜Twelfth' if Council allow it to be used for the '˜Field'.

A written request for permission to host the 2016 Demonstration Field on Tuesday, July 12, at the Council owned site in the north of the town has been submitted to the local authority by the District Secretary of the Ballymena host Lodge,St Patrick’s Church Temperance L.O.L. 1123.

The request is to be put before Mid & East Antrim councillors at their monthly meeting on Monday night with a recommendation for ‘approval’, ‘subject to receipt of a suitable and sufficient Event Management and Safety Plan and appropriate Insurance’.

The annual Twelfth of July Demonstration Field has, with a few exceptions, been accommodated at Ballee Playing Fields for a number of years, however, the letter of request to Council said it was felt the People’s Park was “much better suited” for the event, describing it as “more family orientated and child friendly and more easily accessible to the general public and tourists watching the parade.”

Some 1,500 people are expected to take part in this year’s Ballymena parade which will feature 30 lodges and 15 bands.

It is understood that should approval be given for the host Lodge’s request by councillors that the parade could access the park via the pedestrian path off Doury Road and that the park would remain open to the public during the event which would feature bouncy castles, stalls and hot food.

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