Alliance Alderman Tom Campbell has secured greater access to parkland in the Threemilewater Park, as part of an on-going scheme to create more accessible green space in the area.
At the latest meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Campbell secured backing for the ambitious plan, which will see new paths installed on a currently inaccessible section of the park, with the general appearance also set to be improved by exposing more of an existing river.
He added: “The first phase of the scheme will involve a capital spend of £250,000 and will seek to exploit more of the inaccessible sections of the park for public use. I have met with the Woodland Trust, which has carried out similar, if more modest schemes in Monkstown wood, and what we have in mind may reflect some of this work, albeit on a larger and more ambitious scale.
“At the moment one can access one side of the river as part of the Newtownabbey Way, but the other side along the Doagh Road, which is fringed with extensive woodland, has no paths, is overgrown and inaccessible.
“This scheme will involve cinder paths running along the line of the trees and enabling the walker to return on the other side of the river, thereby extending significantly the use of this wonderful parkland significantly. Work will also take place to remove extensive vegetation which prevents access to the river.”