The council is looking for a “potentially suitable site” for a new skate park in Larne

A meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee said the council had started looking at “potentially suitable sites in Larne for a skate park”.

Ballymena’s new skate park is designed for wheeled sports such as skateboarding, BMX, scooters and bicycles, with disabled access requirements.

It has three distinct zones – a low-level “street part” that recreates the city’s architecture, where riders can practice technical tricks; a faster “ramp section” with a jump box and a mini section with “bowl elements”.

Councilors have also been told of proposals for a ‘swing’ track as part of regeneration plans Carnfannock Country Park outside Larne.

It is a wheeled sports equipment play track that does not require pedaling or pushing by users.

The council acknowledges that Carnfanock Country Park has “remained largely unchanged” since it opened in July 1990 and “recognizes that much more work can be done to build on the visitor experience at Carnfanock”.

The local authority has now applied for external funding to “implement the concepts within the Carnfanac masterplan project” and has held a consultation to get the public’s views on how best to proceed.

An update on the upgrade applications for Carnfanock Country Park and St Patrick’s Barracks in Ballymena was given behind closed doors at the council’s September meeting.

They agreed to take note of the Leveling Up Fund’s applications for co-funding for the development of the St Patrick’s Barracks public area in Ballymena and the refurbishment of Carnfanock Country Park, and to increase the Leveling Up contribution to the St Patrick’s Barracks project.

Ballymena TUV councilor Matthew Armstrong, Carrickfergus Castle Ulster unionist Robin Stewart and Larne Loch unionist Keith Turner said they were against the decision.

Michelle Weir, reporter for the Local Democracy