Outrage over play park gate

It has been revealed that Lisburn City Council granted permission late last year for a gate to be installed between the play park and a new development at the back of the Mace store in the village.

Nessa O’Callaghan from the Hillsborough Strategy Group said the decision by the council was outrageous.

“Residents of the new development are having an advantage over the rest of the village,” said Mrs O’Callaghan.

“These people will be allowed private access to the play park when it is closed to everyone else.

“They are creating a precedent by allowing residents into the play park.

“Is this going to end up being a case of closing the gate after the horse has bolted?” she asked.

However, a spokesperson from Lisburn City Council assured residents that the gate would be monitored by CCTV at all times and that it would be locked when the park was closed.

“To facilitate the redevelopment of the play area in Hillsborough, access for construction traffic was difficult,” explained the spokesperson.

“As a result of discussions with the adjacent land owner, it was agreed that the Council-appointed contractor would be given access to the works through the rear of the land owner’s property.

“During the course of these negotiations it was agreed that a pedestrian gate be installed at the boundary at the rear of this land.

“The gate will only be open when the play area is open and will operate through electronic access control, synchronised with the opening times of the play area.

“In addition, the gate will also be covered by CCTV,” she concluded.