Hazelbank sensory garden among access projects approved

Funding has been approved for a series of accessibility projects in Antrim and Newtownabbey which will include a new sensory garden at Hazelbank Park.

The Department for Communities has approved five funding applications from the borough council through its Access and Inclusion programme.

Hazelbank sensory garden will cost £30,000 to complete.

An accessibility trail has been earmarked for V36 in Newtownabbey and Threemilewater Park at a cost of £30,000 each.

Funding of £8,000 has been approved for a set of automatic doors at Mossley Mill in Newtownabbey.

A sensory garden is to be created at Antrim Castle Gardens at a cost of £30,000.

The projects which received full funding from the Department must be completed by the end of March.

However, an application for funding for a “boardwalk” at Rea’s Wood in Antrim was unsuccessful as this was deemed by the Department to be “related to maintenance, repair and operations and therefore was not eligible under this programme”.

Speaking at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Community Planning Committee on Monday evening, Antrim Ulster Unionist Alderman Paul Michael BEM noted the Department’s concerns over a “maintenance and repair operation” for the Rea’s Wood project. Click here to read: £150k sought for Antrim and Newtownabbey disability access projects

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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