Belfast Council makes call to save Lagan Valley Regional Park after Stormont cut

📆 11/8/2023 7:57 PM

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📆 11/8/2023 7:57 PM
📰 BelfastLive

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Collapse of park warned if Stomont funding gap not filled

A Belfast City Councillor has denounced Stormont for having a “nickels and dimes” approach to Lagan Valley Regional Park after the withdrawal of an annual development funding grant.

"Such an unplanned reduction of income will inevitably mean staff losses, and push the park below a critical mass of operational functionality. In short, it risks the collapse of the park. Jointly, these funds support the jobs of 4.5 members of staff, the work of 60 volunteers and the delivery of critical monitoring, maintenance and visitor engagement duties within the park’s thousands of square kilometres.

"The Department understands that the withdrawal of discretionary funding of £42k from Lagan Valley Regional Park has left the park in a precarious situation however, the decision to cut all discretionary spending and, therefore the funding to Lagan Valley Regional Park, was taken at Departmental level due to overall budget cuts that have affected all Departments.

"Inland Waterways staff have been dealing with any enquiries and complaints regarding the Towpath. Regrettably, the Department has reached the stage where it must prioritise its limited capacity on delivering the functions it is required to deliver by law, which is already facing a considerable funding shortfall.”

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