LISBURN is one step closer to securing funding for a basketball and volleyball centre of excellence.

Lisburn City Council has confirmed that it has been invited by Sport NI to make an application for Stage two funding for a Centre of Excellence to be located at Laurelhill Community College.

The stage two application will include submitting an outline business plan for the proposed centre.

The chairman of the Council's Leisure Services Committee, Councillor Brian Heading, said he was delighted with the positive feedback so far. He said: The project is at the early stages with several other stages to go through before funding is secured but the Council remains positive along with its partners involved.

"Having an Elite facility like this in Lisburn would add to the portfolio of first-class leisure provision in our City and extend the range of sports even further."

Councillor Jonathan Craig, who is Chairman of the Board of Governors at Laurelhill Community College, said: "This is good news for Lisburn that the facility is now in the final running. As Chairman of the Board of Governors at the school and Chairman of the Sports Zone Management Committee, I welcome this development."

Ulster Star
18/07/2008