Further Play Areas 'Swing Into Action'

Three more new play areas have been completed as part of Ards Borough Council's £700,000 refurbishment programme.

Modern play facilities, including swings, slides, seesaws, climbers and a variety of other colourful and interactive equipment, are now being enjoyed by children at Demesne View in Portaferry, The Commons in Donaghadee and in the Glen estate, Newtownards, bringing the total number of play grounds completed so far in the revamp initiative to seven.

Earlier this year, Londonderry Park in Newtownards received a 'signature' play area, while new parks were also created in Ballygowan and Ballywalter. Portavogie was the first village to have a new play park under the modernisation plans.

The Council's 'Champion of Play', Alderman Margaret Craig, is delighted to see the refurbishment work continue at a pace: "The plans to replace and renovate play areas are ambitious and extend right across the Ards Borough, so it's a real pleasure to see the work progressing so quickly and to have a further three modern play parks being enjoyed by local children," she said. "I look forward to seeing the remainder completed in 2010."

A further seven existing play parks at Lisbarnet, the Abbots Estate, Millisle, Greyabbey, Kircubbin, Cloughey and Northfield in Donaghadee are also earmarked for modernisation by the end of the year.

(GK/BMcC)