Call for cycle lanes in park

A regular user of the park has said it could be improved by putting in paths or markings for cyclists.

The Lurgan man, who asked not to be named, said there could be a potential danger to users of the park.

He said: "There are lots of people using the park every day, but there have been a couple of incidents where cyclists have had accidents.

"Only the other week a dog was lost after a crash with a cyclist and there have been times when people have been injured after being hit by a bike.

"The bikes are very quiet and people just don't have the common sense, but at least if there was a lane for the cyclists then they would have a place to go and walkers would be safer."

The man also said the council needed to review the rules of he park, he added: "Dogs need to be kept on a leash at all times, at the moment they only need to be under control, but even the best behaved dogs can act-up.

"The council needs to take another look at the rules."

A spokeswoman for the council said it had asked the public for their views on cycle paths in the park two years ago.

"The issue of introducing a cycle path in the park is an ongoing matter," she said, "that has been considered in the past and decided against following consultation with the public.

"Results from a survey carried out in 2008 found that cyclists are rarely perceived as a problem in the park, however, Craigavon Borough Council would ask those cycling to be courteous to other users.

She added: "Council is currently conducting a further survey on user satisfaction in the Park.

"From an aesthetic point of view a cycle path would not be in keeping with the park’s environment. Lurgan Park is a park for everyone and council is proud that the park is one of just five in Northern Ireland to boast the Green Flag Award making it one of the premiere parks in Northern Ireland."

Meanwhile, Lurgan Park remains in contention to be named the UK's best public space.

Voting for the People's Choice - Site of the Year Award closes at the end of the month.

The award is an annual online vote giving people the power to decide which Green Flag park from a list of more than 1,000 should receive this coveted title.

Lurgan Park was the first in Ireland to gain the prestigious Green Flag award in 2008 which is a national standard for parks and green spaces and is a real coup for this busy and breathtaking Craigavon Borough Council run Park.

You can still cast your vote for the competition and make Lurgan Park the UK's best park.