Lurgan Park set for major resurfacing

Council had tried to attract external funding for the resurfacing of the main avenue, but the Heritage Lottery Fund, the most likely funders, said they were not in a position to provide separate or additional funding for the project.

Council will foot the bill themselves and it’s hoped work can begin in the very near future.

DUP Councillor Phil Moutray has welcomed the decision of council to resurface the main avenue in Lurgan Park. He commented: “Lurgan Park is the largest park in Northern Ireland attracting tens of thousands of visitors every year from near and far.

“I feel it is important that we invest in the upkeep of the infrastructure there so that future generations can avail of this jewel in Lurgan’s crown.

“In 2004 the Heritage Lottery Foundation invested almost £2 million in Lurgan Park and this further investment by council will ensure that the high standards achieved 10 years ago are maintained into the future.”

Over the past number of years the condition of the main avenue in the park which runs from the gates at Avenue Road to the gates at Windsor Avenue had deteriorated to the extent that the top coat of tarmac needs to be replaced.

It’s been over 14 years since the drive was resurfaced and since then vehicular traffic along with the elements has seen the surface wear down to expose the base coat.

Patching of the main drive had been carried out on a regular basis as a temporary solution.

Approximately 900 metres of the main drive needs to be resurfaced and by keeping the existing kerb sets in-situ, the cost of the project would be in the region of £37,000.

At a recent meeting of the Leisure Services committee councillors were told that if resurfacing was agreed it would be completed fairly quickly.