By Iain Gray
FEARS over more than £8m of cash earmarked to overhaul a Newtownards beauty spot are unfounded, a local MLA has reassured.
Over the past two weeks, massive regeneration projects around Northern Ireland have been thrown into doubt after Westminster decided to pause funding meant to pay for them.
But £8.5m to be spent on Whitespots Country Park comes from a different cash pot, so won’t be affected by troubles now hitting city and growth deals.
At one point, Ards and North Down Council hoped to get the Whitespots revamp paid for out of the Belfast City Region Deal, only to be told that it wouldn’t qualify.
That deal was one of four initially announced as being paused, only for Northern Ireland’s political leaders to insist that the Belfast deal is still going ahead despite no official word from Westminster confirming that.
The Whitespots cash, announced earlier this year, is to come from two Stormont funds.
Said MLA Nick Mathison this week: “I’m pleased to have confirmation from the Finance Minister that the investment will go ahead, despite the uncertainty surrounding city deals.
“These upgrades will transform the park into a more inclusive, accessible and family-friendly space, and I look forward to seeing the improvements take shape.”
The long-awaited Whitespots revamp will see upgrades to paths and trails, the development of a trial bike area, and the creation of a visitor hub.
It’s the first phase of a hoped-for wider overhaul of the area to turn it into a tourist attraction and popular walking trail.
