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Funding for Stranraer Sports Facility

LOTTERY funding, amounting to £172,771, has been awarded to build a new all-weather sports facility in Stranraer.

Now sports enthusiasts in the Belmont and Ochtrelure area can look forward to having a brand-new floodlit facility on their doorstep by next year if planners give the green light.

Last week's funding package ties in with a council drive to improve opportunities for local youngsters to take part in sport. Almost £500,000 has been handed out by the Big Lottery Fund arm of the National Lottery to four projects in the region in the last four weeks.

The Stranraer facility will be based at Belmont Primary School and will be used by pupils from Belmont and nearby St Joseph's during school hours before being opened up to the public in the evenings and at weekends.

It will consist of two tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch and netball court fenced in with floodlighting, much the same as the facilities at Stair Park and Portpatrick.

This week education and leisure officials reacted with delight to the funding announcement.