A number of community shared spaces in Comber, Holywood, Portaferry and Portavogie have begun development thanks to funding from the European Union's PEACE IV Programme.

Ards and North Down Borough Council secured £3.3 million from the programme, with £1 million set aside for FP McCann to deliver the shared spaces projects on all four sites.

Work in Comber and Portaferry officially started on 06 January with Comber's Mucker's Field set to get a new skate park with fencing and lighting. Additional drainage works will be added to the existing family kick about area and the path that surrounds the entire field, which connects to the Comber to Newtownards Greenway, will be upgraded and widened.

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In Portaferry, there will be improvements to the existing walking trail path at Nugent's Wood as well as additional drainage works, seating, sculptures and new entrance signage. Meanwhile, an official walking trail gravel path will be installed at Portaferry Ropewalk where new seating and entrance signage will also be installed.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said: "Ards and North Down Borough Council is looking forward to making the most of the opportunity provided by the PEACE IV Programme. The Programme is designed to support peace and reconciliation and will bring a real, tangible benefit to our community.

"Each development will focus on creating a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared spaces and services across the Borough ensuring that each area will provide recreational facilities for all members of the community to use."

Work will commence on the final two sites in Holywood and Portavogie in the late spring. 

(CM/MH)