PLANS to regenerate Wallace Park took a step forward this week with news that Scott Wilson Group have been appointed to design the new facilities.

It was also revealed at this week's meeting of Lisburn City Council, that the �1.5 million regeneration scheme will include a' flagship play facility'.

Welcoming the appointment of the company who will undertake the design, contract documentation and construct supervision of the project, Councillor Paul Givan, former Vice Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee, said: "This council has made the improvement of Wallace

Park a priority and �1.5 million is really putting your money where your mouth is. "We don't just want to upgrade the park, we want a flagship park that will attract people from beyond Lisburn," he added.

Chairman of the Council's Environmental Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter, expressed his thanks to the Friends of Wallace Park group, who have been campaigning for improvements to the park. "By working in partnership we can deliver," he said. Alderman Ivan Davis declared the park would be a "credit to this city" and Councillor Andrew Ewing added: "Wallace Park is one of the city's best assets."

Councillor Bill Gardiner-Watson stated that the regeneration was 'long overdue'. "Wallace Park could become one of the most beautiful parks in Northern Ireland," he stated.

His sentiments were echoed by Alderman Cecil Calvert, who said: "I hope work will start in the not to distant future to make this a premier open space for the people of Lisburn. I think we deserve it."

Councillor Brian Heading, Chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee, also spoke of the pressure on open space in the city and added: "I would like to make sure every play park in the city is a flagship park."

julieann.spence@jpress.co.uk