Play park protesters call for better facilities

Local mum, Zoe Sparks, who started the campaign was pleased with the turn out.

“There was a good crowd there considering it wasn’t such a great day. It was rainy and misty,” she said.

The mum of one started the campaign after taking daughter Laila, aged 3, to other parks in the area.

“For a town of this size, Dromore deserves a much better play park,” she said.

“I go to other areas, towns smaller than Dromore and I can’t believe how good their facilities are.”

Encouraging people to sign the petition, Zoe said: “I think it’s about time our town had a new park for the kids, you go to other parks even in housing estates or out in the country and they are so much better than ours.

“Dromore gets nothing at all, so sign this petition please.

“We have a petition online and also in local shops and already I have a couple of pages back that are completely filled in on both sides.

“I’ve been really encouraged by the support.

“Drew Greg has also agreed to help us with the next steps and has set up a Facebook page - Dromore Park ‘Kids play area’, to get the word out and get more people on board.”

Zoe said she is pleased local councillors Paul Rankin, Carol Black, Mark Baxter and Mark Woods have all given their support to the campaign and a meeting has been set up with Jeffrey Donaldson MP.

Paul Rankin said: “This is something I have been lobbying for and will continue to fight for as a local elected representative.

“I fully support the parents in their campaign.”

Thanking everyone for their support of the campaign, Carol Black said: “A big thank you to Laura Ogle and Zoe Sparks who organised the rally. Good Luck next stage to get MP and MLA’S on board.

“Thank you to Councillor Marc Woods and Alderman Paul Rankin who also voiced their concerns.”