Other News In Brief

Views Sought On Strabane Urban Sports Park

Derry City and Strabane District Council has invited stakeholders and residents to attend a public information session regarding the potential site for the Strabane Urban Sports Park.

The project aims to create a sports park accommodating various wheeled sports, including skateboarding, biking, scootering, roller skating and inline skating. Additionally, it includes plans to improve the current playground facilities in the vicinity.

Site location concept designs for the park will be on display on Wednesday August 7 2024 in the Melvin Sports Complex from 11am until 2pm and from 6pm to 9pm.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, said: "This is a key element of the design phase of the new Strabane Urban Sports Park project and is an opportunity to speak directly with the project team. The event is open to residents, community groups and stakeholders with an interest in replacing the play park in Ballycolman and the possibility of incorporating a Skate Park facility in the Melvin Sports Complex grounds."

Liam Cannon from Strabane Urban Sports believes the new park would be pivotal in helping young people to reach their potential in wheeled sports. He stated: "An urban sports park will help steer our younger generations in a more positive direction and we believe this could help eliminate the more negative options available to them. Urban sports is now part of the Olympics and is an option in GCSE, we need a controlled environment for our children to excel."

Aodhan Harkin Chairperson of Strabane Local Growth Partnership added: "We warmly welcome the prospects of an Urban Sports Park being developed here in Strabane. There has been significant interest in such a facility for many years and it will be a great addition to the existing outstanding facilities at Melvin Park."

ABC Council Sports Clubs Join Fight Against Plastic Pollution

Sports clubs throughout the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough are actively contributing to the fight against plastic pollution by joining NI Water's Refillution campaign.

In celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Refillution initiative, which promotes the use of reusable bottles, the Environmental Services team at ABC Council is encouraging more sports clubs, community groups and organisations to participate. They aim to collectively reduce single-use plastics and make a positive environmental impact. Council kerbside collections pick up over 3,000 tonnes of plastic per year, much of it single use. Plastic bottles also make up a large percentage of the litter which blights our towns, green spaces and roadsides.

In Northern Ireland alone, 145 million single-use plastic bottles are used annually. Across the UK, the average person is estimated to use 150 plastic water bottles each year, equating to more than three bottles per week. Unfortunately, many of these bottles are discarded and contribute to pollution in our rivers and seas.

Deputy Lord Mayor of ABC Borough, Cllr Kyle Savage met with officials from NI Water at the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon to lend his support to the campaign. He said: "During Plastic Free July, I was delighted to hear that so many of our sports clubs here in the ABC Borough are already signing up to the Refillution campaign and by doing so they are reducing the number of single-use plastic bottles and also spreading an important environmental message. We can all see how many plastic bottles end up as litter, and this campaign is a really effective way of tackling that, and I would encourage any other sports clubs and groups to sign up and get their free bottles."

Ballycastle And Bushmills' VICs Recognised By Trip Advisor

Trip Advisor has officially recognised the Visitor Information Centres (VICs) in Ballycastle and Bushmills for their exceptional service quality.

Both locations' Visitor Servicing teams were recently honoured with Trip Advisor's Travellers' Choice Award. This accolade acknowledges their consistent receipt of outstanding reviews over the past twelve months.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan, said: "I would like to thank the staff of Ballycastle and Bushmills VIC who have contributed to this success. Securing the 'Certificate of Excellence' from Trip Advisor is a major achievement as only 10% of businesses reach this high standard.

"Our Visitor Servicing teams play an important role in welcoming visitors to the Borough and these awards highlight their professionalism and commitment to providing excellent customer service to locals and visitors alike."

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Tourism Destination Manager Kerrie McGonigle added: "As well as providing a warm welcome to our visitors, the Visitor Information Centres provide a platform for the local tourism and hospitality businesses to showcase their experiences and many local food and craft products. I'm delighted that Ballycastle and Bushmills VIC have been recognised in this way and we are looking forward to a busy summer season across the Borough."