Children in east and west Belfast can look forward to safer play places after city councillors agreed to build two new play parks with funding from the Department of Social Development.

The DSD has agreed to provide around £350,000 to pay for the parks which will be built and maintained by Belfast City Council.

The new parks will be at Eversleigh Street in the Woodstock Road area and Sliabh Dubh View off the Springfield Road.

Councillors at the Parks and Leisure Committee heard details of the agreement at their meeting last Thursday.

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Committee Chairman, Councillor Bob Stoker, said: "We are currently undertaking a review of playground provision but we are satisfied that playgrounds are needed in both these areas.

"We had been in discussion with residents from the Eversleigh Street for some time when we were also approached by residents from Sliabh Dubh, a new estate with more than 200 homes.

"The land has been made available thanks to co-operation from both the Housing Executive and Fold Housing Association and the DSD has agreed to pay the capital costs of building them.

"It is one of our key priorities to work with other agencies to improve the quality of life for our residents and this is an example of the outcome that such partnerships can produce. I think we are all delighted at the result," he added.

(PR)/JM