Ards and North Down Borough council are bidding for a £15 million fund to make a new country park at Whitespots outside Newtownards.
The Bangor Road beauty spot became a public park in 1995, at the site of 19th century lead mines, and its historic windmill recently became an important stop on the Game of Thrones trail, as a memorable location from the programme's season three.
However many have believed the area to have suffered from neglect in recent years, and hopes that the area would receive transformation from the Belfast City Region deal were dashed.
However, at the latest meeting of Ards and North Down Council, elected representatives agreed to apply for a new £100 million pot of funding from Stormont called the NI City and Growth Deals Complementary Fund.
The council will bid for £14.9 million from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and contribute £1.6 million itself. The whole project is expected to cost around £20 million, the outstanding capital to be provided from private investment.
The plan involves the creation of a new park landscape, with trails across several hundred acres of land linking Newtownards to the Clandeboye Estate, and new woodland.
There will also be a strong emphasis on heritage, looking at the industrial importance of the mines, and the links with the first world war. The park is also central to plans for a new greenway connecting Comber, Newtownards, Conlig, Bangor and Helen’s Bay.
UUP Councillor Richard Smart said: “Whitespots is a bit of a rough diamond in our borough, with some of the best views of scenery to be had anywhere. But partly due to its condition and limited accessibility, it is little known and unfortunately underrated. Our shared support could change all that, and see the site fulfil its true potential.
“It will allow the preservation of the rich history of mining and the built heritage to be maintained on the site. It would create new jobs for the borough through a visitor hub and other amenities, it would support our Somme Centre with much needed footfall, and better enable the shared understanding and remembrance of those soldiers who trained at Clandeboye.”
He added: “It would also provide a safe and maintained venue for our biking fraternity, which has been a challenge in the past. It would have an adventure zone, with everything from zip wires to play areas.
"It would also allow people to explore the site’s connection with Game of Thrones, and the Columban trail, and allow visitors and residents alike to enjoy the new green sustainable links across the borough.”
