Frew set for pitch battle on Wakehurst issue

COUNCILLOR Paul Frew DUP MLA for North Antrim has thrown his weight behind the campaign to upgrade the Wakehurst Playing Fields, to a better level than is currently enjoyed.

The thorny issue of the maintenance of the Harryville complex - one of the borough longest-established public sporting facilities - has been a long-running source of frustration for those who use the pitches.

Having met with the football teams and user group who use the facility Cllr Frew says he understands the frustration that has built up over the years.

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Frew said: "Ballymena Borough Council has spent a considerable amount of money on a minor works upgrade to the changing rooms back in 2004-2005 which cost council 95,000 and there has been summer maintenance completed on the individual pitches with costs ranging from 800 to 1400 per pitch.

"This consists of verti-draining, direct seeding,top dressing and the goalmouths being re-instated every year.

"So council have spent money on Wakehurst pitches but the user group are rightly concerned that we have went well beyond the point where the pitches are deteriorating year on year and whatever money we use for maintenance will be putting money into bad use.

"What we need on the pitches is a complete overhaul of the drainage system, this will make economic sense in the long run and will produce far better playing surfaces which would be more manageable in bad weather.

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"Wakehurst playing fields are an iconic area of Ballymena, everyone knows where it is, so it is important that we look after the facility not least for the teams who use it," added Frew.

The local MLA has a proven track record in campaigning for better sporting facilities.

As a Braid Councillor he has campaigned hard for the eagerly awaited Clough football pitches, which are due to commence this month; he has assisted in making the pitch in Broughshane the only Milk Cup pitch outside of the Showgrounds complex in the Borough; and he has also seen the NEELB Youth Centre in Broughshane get a much needed facelift with an extra sports hall added among other improvements.

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