A £150,000 soccer pitch beside an east Belfast leisure centre, closed for seven months following damage during the construction of an 11th Night bonfire, is finally to re-open.
The 3G pitch at Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre was damaged in May after young people involved in building the Clonduff estate’s bonfire threw bottles on to the surface.
Local Councillor Michael Long said his hope is that it will not close again next year during either the construction of the controversial bonfire.
In 2022, the five-a-side pitch was closed due to fire damage, forcing Belfast City Council to erect expensive protective coverings around its perimeter the following year and this summer.
The Alliance councillor said the estimated cost to fix the damage, in lost revenue and the measures to protect the pitch from the fire and heat was over £20,000.
“I am glad that is been fixed despite the additional costs but, my concern, hopefully this will not be repeated,” Mr Long said.
“This is for the local community and it is difficult to get on other pitches due to high demand.”
It took many months for work to begin on repairing and make completely safe for users as the shards of broken glass penetrated through the top surface and into the lower layers. Contractors had to be brought in for what was a complex job.
The surface had to be entirely replaced along with the crumb rubber just below. Material at the bottom had to hoovered with what Mr Long described as essentially an industrial vacuum cleaner sourced elsewhere and brought to Belfast.
The pitch is one of two in the grounds of the leisure centre, which was refurbished at a cost of £20m before re-opening in 2019. Each of the 3G pitches cost £150,000.
In May, a group of youths gathered at the bonfire site threw bottles and stones on to the pitch, including when people were playing. It was immediately closed.
