Three councils have each been allocated £25,000 in funding to develop Greenway projects.

The funding, allocated from the Department of Infrastructure, is being provided under Stage 3 of the Small Grants Programme for Greenways.

The grants will be used to develop the following schemes: Ards and North Down Borough Council - Comber to Newtownards Greenway; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council - Greenisland Greenway and the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council – Carryduff Greenway.

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Sinn Féin MLA and Infrastructure spokesperson Philip McGuigan welcomed the announcement.

He said: "Last week I met with the permanent secretary of the department and encouraged the department to provide capital funding as quickly as possible to assist all local councils to devise and develop these projects in their areas. I would also encourage the Department to look at additional funding beyond this £75k to allow other Greenway projects to advance at a quicker pace.

"Greenway projects have proved hugely beneficial and attractive for local communities. These projects promote sustainable active travel and aid tourism and since the development of some key Greenway projects there has been an increase in people using them and benefit to local economies surrounding them.

"I would like to see the potential of Greenway projects realised across the North and on a cross-border basis."

(CD/JP)