Ards Borough Council has spoken out publicly for the first time on their proposals to re-develop Londonderry Park.

In an open letter to last Thursday's edition of The Chronicle, the council's head of Leisure Services explained that Ards Council are close to submitting a bid for funding to upgrade the Portaferry Road facility.

In his letter, Archie Walls commented, "If [the funding bid] is successful, the new facilities will include two third generation floodlit pitches, one of which will be an 'arena' facility; a 3rd generation floodlit training area; a sand filled floodlit hockey pitch; a replacement cricket table and drainage improvements to grass pitch number five."

Walls' letter came in response to a number of questions asked previously by a supporter of the Bring Ards FC Home campaign, about the plans for future leisure provision. Ards supporters are involved in a continuing campaign to encourage the Council to build facilities that would allow the football club to once again play games in Newtownards.

Walls noted that this was a consideration of the scheme: "It is hoped the 'arena' facility will be used by Ards FC as its home pitch," he commented.

Ards followers are keenly awaiting the outcome of current council deliberations on the project that could see over a million pounds invested in the Londonderry Park grounds. Currently indications are that council members may be ready to vote on the issue in March or April.

The next meeting of the Bring Ards Home campaign will be on Wednesday 4th March at 8pm.

1st March 2009

ardsfc.co.uk