Plea to save Craigavon City Park

A protest against plans to build at Craigavon Lakes has been organised by locals hoping to save the City Park.
Craigavon Lakes and Civic Centre. INPT24-300.Craigavon Lakes and Civic Centre. INPT24-300.
Craigavon Lakes and Civic Centre. INPT24-300.

A Facebook group called Save Craigavon City Park has been set up to lobby against building the new Southern Regional College by the lakes.

A popular place for walkers and joggers, plans are also afoot for the new South Lakes Leisure Centre at the current site of the Watersports Centre.

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However the move has upset locals who use the park frequently to cycle, run, walk and have family days out.

The lakes are popular for all sorts of clubs including anglers and those interested in water sports such as canoeing and water skiing.

Residents have voiced concerns that bats, which are a protected species, have made trees around the lakes their habitat.

Paul Wharton said: “There’s also the chance the lakes could get polluted from building materials.

“It’s an important winter location for migrating birds.

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“Kingfishers are resident too and they are also a protected species.”

SDLP activist Thomas Larkham voiced his opposition to the development proposals.

“There are plenty of alternative sites in the Craigavon area for a new college to be placed but our public park IS NOT one of them.

“I am totally opposed to the complete destruction of our public park and will be attending the public consultation in Craigavon Civic Centre on Wednesday 23rd Nov.

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“I would urge anyone else who is opposed to this proposal to do likewise.”

The Facebook group is also urging people to attend the Civic Centre at Craigavon on Wednesday 23rd November at 6.30pm,

“Don’t let the beautiful Craigavon Lakes become a concrete jungle,” said the site.