New lagoon park approved for Co Down village

Councillor says Millisle plan will be “a vast improvement on a rather awful pond arrangement”

A new lagoon park has been approved for a picturesque seaside village on the Ards Peninsula.

Elected representatives at the Ards and North Down Borough Council Planning Committee this week approved the regeneration of Millisle Lagoon Park and Garden, an application by the council itself.

The proposal includes “environmental improvements”, including a repurposing of the disused paddling pool for a new “tiered amenity space,” the provision of new cube-shaped floating pontoons, and new concrete steps to the beach.

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The plan includes new granite planters with timber top seating, six new five-metre lighting columns , two new external shower units with a timber screen, and a portable toilet.

There were no objections from any of the statutory partners. The council officer’s report recommended the plan for approval.

The report states: “The proposal aims to improve the overall aesthetics of an existing tourist amenity by providing improved access to the beach and saltwater lagoon, a landscaped seating area in lieu of a dilapidated concrete paddling area and the provision of shower/WC facilities for users of the site.

“By contributing to the overall improvement of the tourist asset, the development has potential to increase visitor numbers to Millisle, to the tourist offer of the Ards Peninsula and will contribute to the overall economic performance of the borough.”

At the June meeting of the council’s Planning Committee, held this week, elected representatives unanimously approved the planning application.

A council officer told the chamber at the council’s Church Street offices in Newtownards: “This project has been on the go for over three years, and we have worked very closely with the community association. The council gives the regeneration team money to work up projects to have them oven-ready.

“This is one such project, we are hoping when the planning approval is granted, then we will look for the funding to do the actual works. As it stands, there is no funding as yet to start on site.”

Alliance Councillor Patricia Morgan, who proposed approval for the application, said: “It looks like a great proposal, a vast improvement on a rather awful pond arrangement.”

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