Children in the Killicomaine area of Portadown are facing another long summer without their promised play park with one angry local representative demanding to know: ‘What’s the hold-up?’
Alderman Margaret Tinsley is insisting ABC Council must now deliver for the young people of the area after deadline after deadline has been allowed to slide past.
The DUP representative said she was “really frustrated and disappointed” to have to raise the issue once again at the April meeting of the environmental services committee.
While not asking for answers there and then, she sought assurances from officers that they would come back with full and final details of when the new play at Abercorn Park would be put in place.
“I’ve spoken at length to officers regarding the delay in the implementation of this play park and I’m still not clear on what the actual timeline is,” said Alderman Tinsley.
“Back in November 2025, I was informed, after many years of actually trying to get the capital for this play park, it has been agreed, it’s going to be implemented, that by January 2026, all of the procurement team, on site drawings, everything would be completed.
“Fast forward then to January, then it was put back to the 28th of January. I was then informed that there’s a slight delay and that everything will definitely be in place by the end of February.
“Fifth of March, still nothing, and we’re now into April and I still am none the wiser, where we are with the design team, where we are with everything, going out to public consultation.
“I’m not asking for an update tonight, but you can totally understand my frustrations.
“I genuinely thought we were now going to have a summer where the young people of Killicomaine were going to have their play park implemented and installed.”
Alderman Tinsley said she wanted assurances at officer level that there would be no further delays, “that we will push on and get this implemented”.
She added: “So, officers, I’m just asking you to take it on board tonight, whatever the delays are to get them sorted out and let’s get moving with this much, much needed play park. I do appreciate that I may be a bit more impatient but you can understand three years is a long time.”
