Councillor Simon Hamilton has “warmly welcomed” the decision by Ards Borough Council to proceed with an £8,000 renovation of Laurel Bank park in Comber.

The decision at July’s council meeting comes after Councillor Hamilton and his colleague deputy mayor Councillor Billy Montgomery had a motion successfully passed calling for the regeneration of what they described as “this forgotten piece of parkland”.

Commenting on the decision, Mr Hamilton said: “This is brilliant news for Laurel Bank and the people of Comber. After years of neglect, I am ecstatic that Laurel Bank is going to receive the regeneration it deserves.

“Laurel Bank may be a small piece of parkland in the context of the many open spaces that the council owns and maintains but I firmly believe that there are few as beautiful. Sadly, down through the years, that beauty hasn’t been fully appreciated.

“Whilst the council consistently cut the grass and looked after the planted areas, the stream which flows through the park had become shabby with the accumulation of litter and debris, and overgrown shrubs and trees spoiling the view of the river and its small waterfalls.”

The scheme will see the council remove all dead trees, crown lift the remaining ones to open up the view of the river, work with the Rivers Agency to clean up the river, remove shrubs from the river bank and plant a dozen new trees.

The agency will also tarmac the existing stone path ways and install modern park benches and bins.

“I am in no doubt that these works will drastically improve Laurel Bank,” Councillor Hamilton continued.

“In conjunction with the cleaning up of the pond at the top of Laurel Bank, I believe that people in that part of Comber and indeed from far beyond will have at their disposal a wonderful piece of open space that they will be able to better appreciate what has been a hidden gem.”

Work will begin at the park later this year.