Full speed ahead for Newtownabbey skate park as £0.75m European funding secured

A funding bid to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) for European funding has been successful.

Councillors have approved the V36 urban sports park project to proceed and gave ehief executive Jacqui Dixon delegated authority in the procurement process..

The recommendation was proposed by Ulster Unionist Councillor Robert Foster who remarked that funding has “taken an eternity”.

Three tenders for construction of the V36 skate park have been submitted to Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council.

The long-awaited V36 skate park, which has been earmarked for a site beside the Valley Leisure Centre, in Newtownabbey is on the council’s Capital Projects Priority List.

It is anticipated that the project will take approximately five months to complete.

A council officer has advised elected representatives to “expedite the appointment of a contractor and to begin work on site as soon as possible to avoid laying the concrete surface in poor weather conditions”.

It is expected that the new sports facility which has been hailed as the biggest in Ireland would be able to “offer a first class experience for amateurs and professionals”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter

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Click here to read: Antrim and Newtownabbey Council agrees permanent tribute to Prince Philip

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