Spotlight on Delivery Disability and Accessible Play

In 2019, the DUP pledged to deliver real change for people with disabilities as part of our Local Government Manifesto. Over the past four years, our Councillors have been working proactively to honour this commitment and their investment is making a difference day and daily to children, young people and adults with disabilities. Here is a snapshot of some of the things they’ve achieved to date.

Belfast

Alderman Frank McCoubrey successfully brought forward a motion proposing an audit of play facilities across the City. As a result, every new and refurbished play park in Belfast now has equipment for disabled children, including an area for those with autism. The Hammer, in the Shankill area, has had a disability friendly play park completed and further works are planned across other parts of Belfast including Inverary,

Botanic and the Woodvale. DUP Belfast Councillors have been at the forefront of developing sensory gardens and Cllr Sarah Bunting has also worked with principals and Belvoir ASD to develop communication boards for non-verbal children.

Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon

The DUP group in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon brought forward a full review of the Play Strategy and subsequently all of the Borough’s 95 local, neighbourhood and district play parks are now accessible, with a minimum of 4 pieces of inclusive equipment. Wheelchair swings are in place, or are being progressed, at Lurgan Park Play Park, Gosford, Scarva and Portadown People’s Park and this provision will be rolled-out further as funding and infrastructure is put in place. The DUP has also supported the successful introduction of changing places provision throughout the Borough.

Mid Ulster

The Mid Ulster DUP Council team have supported the Council’s applications to the Department for Communities (DfC) Access and Inclusion Grant. This has led to the successful installation of changing places, hi-riser benches, aquatic wheelchairs, pool pod lift systems and hearing loop technology throughout the District’s leisure and recreation centres, sports arenas and golf centres. DUP Councillors also supported the roll-out of Community Inclusive Benches as part of the NI Centenary celebrations and a further 10 new benches were recently purchased for Council premises.

Antrim and Newtownabbey

The new and upgraded play parks at Antrim Lough Shore,

Rathcoole, Lilian Bland and V36 at Valley Leisure Centre included inclusive equipment as a direct result of DUP input since our 2019 manifesto pledge. For the remaining 30 facilities across Antrim & Newtownabbey, approximately £400,000 has been invested with DUP support in order to achieve disability improvements. DUP Councillors have also pushed for sensory gardens across the Borough, with the first now in place at Hazelbank Park. Separately, they introduced ‘chatty benches’ to support positive mental health and supported a bursary fund to support projects by the local special schools.

Causeway Coast and Glens

The DUP team on Causeway Coast and Glens has been to the forefront in pressing for the delivery of inclusive play. There are now 286 pieces of inclusive equipment, representing 38% of all playground items, across the Borough. Our Councillors have supported a number of recent projects to completion, including the Roe Mill Recreation Grounds Accessible Play Park and the new Water Sports Centre, Portrush - as part of the Beach Access Scheme. Investment in 2023 will see accessible play equipment, inclusive cycling and changing pods provided at Portrush

Recreation Grounds Play Park, Megaw Park, Ballymoney and Riada Playing Fields/ Disability Sport Hub.

Mid and East Antrim

In Mid & East Antrim, 5 play parks are scheduled for refurbishment in 2023, including the new play park at Woodburn in Carrickfergus and Wilson Crescent Play Park in Ballymena, which is being funded with a contribution from DfC to support the purchase of accessible and inclusive equipment. Separately, the DUP group has supported PAN-disability clubs for young people between the ages of 5 and 16, inclusive bike hire, autism information roadshows, specialised sensory play sessions, ‘quiet hour’ swimming and Makaton classes for children and adults with communication and learning difficulties.

Fermanagh and Omagh

The DUP Councillors on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council ensured inclusive play was front and centre of a new £5m ten-year Play Strategy for 2020-2030, which will focus on 97 Council managed play areas across the district going forward. 57 items of inclusive play equipment have already been installed, in part through investment secured via the DfC Access and Inclusion programme. This includes basket swings and sensory play panels. A further 45 items will be funded and introduced over the course of the next financial year.

Newry, Mourne and Down

Since the 2019 Local Government Election, DUP Councillors in Newry, Mourne and Down have played an active role in delivering disability access to all new play parks in the District. They have also ensured that each site has inclusive and sensory play equipment for the benefit of those with disabilities. Our Councillors have also played a large part in securing access to beaches for wheelchairs, especially at Cranfield.

Lisburn and Castlereagh

The DUP team on Lisburn and Castlereagh have advocated for a greater range of inclusive equipment across the Council’s

52 fixed play parks. The new Dungoyne Play Park in Dundonald, which opened in 2021, included the installation of a number of piece of accessible equipment allowing children of all abilities and needs the opportunity to play alongside each other. This is being used as a pilot to see which equipment is most suited to inclusive play. A wheelchair accessible swing is also in place in Hillsborough Forest. The DUP is also supporting ongoing work with Playboard NI and the Mae Murray Foundation to agree a set of core considerations for future play area design.

Londonderry and Strabane

DUP Councillors in Londonderry & Strabane have pressed for additional play facilities across the Council area, especially in the rural areas that currently have no provision. Through their efforts, all new play parks and upgrades to older Council stock will now include the installation of play equipment that benefits those with a disability. The DUP team has delivered new play parks in Eglinton and Strathfoyle, whilst securing an upgrade to the football pitches in Artigarvan and Donemana - which included new changing facilities. They are also continuing to call for new play park provision at Rossdowney in the Waterside, Killeen and Ballymagorry.

Ards and North Down

The core policy of providing accessible play equipment has been long established in Ards and North Down and during this term DUP Councillors have ensured this remains to the fore of the Council’s new play strategy for 2021-31. Under the strategy, a number of play parks have already had new equipment installed, or are being upgraded, including Lemons Wharf, Donaghadee, Cloughey Play Park and Cherryvalley Play park in Comber. There is a fantastic tier one play park at the Ards Blair Mayne Leisure Complex which incorporates a sensory garden and all ability play equipment. The DUP team in Ards and North Down have also been working with the Mae Murray Foundation to deliver an inclusive beach at Groomsport.