With work ongoing on new paving to the front of the South Lake Leisure Centre, an Armagh councillor has expressed concern that the rest of the Craigavon Lakes area will look “tired” in comparison.
Speaking at August’s meeting of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Committee, Armagh Councillor Sam Nicholson said the new paving looks impressive.
Raising the point during discussions around Department for Communities funding for the revitalisation of Craigavon Town Centre, Cllr Nicholson asked if this funding would allow for the revitalisation of Craigavon Lakes.
“The paving at the front of the new leisure centre is currently going down and looks very well,” said the Ulster Unionist representative.
“However, I have a feeling the rest of the lakes site will look very tired in comparison. Will the funding from the Department for Communities allow work to be carried out at the Lakes?
“They are currently laying the paving at the site and will soon be putting in the rest of the landscaping and my concern is that the rest of the area will look very tired when this work is completed.”
In response, Council’s head of regeneration, Therese Rafferty explained that most of the area encompassing the lakes falls outside the area defined as Craigavon town centre but it is possible a bit of the area might fall within the remit of the revitalisation scheme.
The revitalisation project, which would be fully funded by the Department for Communities, would enable the provision of improvements to the public realm and wayfinding within the boundary of Craigavon Town Centre.
It is hoped this work will encourage and enable better navigation for pedestrians and cyclists around central Craigavon while promoting the use of facilities and assets within and outside of the primary retail core.
