Issue 110 - Lisburn BT25 • BT26 •BT27 •BT28 • BT29
LCCC Sets District Rate at 3.99% increase
At a recent meeting, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) agreed the 2025/26 district rate, setting an increase of 3.99% for both domestic and non-domestic properties.
Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson Lisburn joins BMX Club to explore Lisburn’s first skatepark at Bells Lane Park.
Lisburn and Castlereagh area benefits from over £9.5m investment Communities across LCCC area have benefited from almost £10m of investment over the past three years through 40 local projects. Key projects include village improvement schemes, communitybased sport and leisure facilities, and greenway infrastructure enhancements. Against a spend of £9,556,415, the council secured external funding of £4,013,997 from the Northern Ireland and UK Governments.
Projects include installation of all-weather surfaces for football and Gaelic at Lough Moss, delivery of village plans in Anahilt, Drumbo and Glenavy, a digital art sculpture trail in Hillsborough Forest Park and village improvements in Moneyreagh. Visitor numbers to Lisburn almost doubled
in December through an enhanced light festival and Christmas programme of events. Work is planned in the coming weeks to modernise play parks in Crossnacreevy, Ryan Park and in Drumlough whilst a new all-weather playing surface will be installed shortly in Maghaberry. Building on the success
of the only national standard BMX track in Northern Ireland, the council is working with the Lisburn BMX Club to explore improvements to the starter gate alongside creation of Lisburn’s first skatepark at the adjacent Bells Lane Park.
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For the average household, this equates to an additional 41 pence per week. Chair of Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Nicholas Trimble, said: “We recognise that real cost of living pressures continue to impact people’s everyday lives and we have worked hard try to keep the rate increase as low as possible. We are confident that Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council will continue to have the lowest domestic district rate in Northern Ireland. “This small increase will allow us to continue to protect essential services and deliver key projects and initiatives that will shape the future of our area and benefit residents for years to come. “Our multi-million-pound investment in the new Dundonald International Ice Bowl will create jobs, en-
hance tourism and strengthen Lisburn & Castlereagh’s position as a premier visitor destination - supporting businesses and driving economic growth. We hope to enhance this further with the ongoing development of our new Tourism Strategy. “Our 2024 Christmas programme attracted 145,000 visitors to the city centre. This was a welcome boost to the local economy and reinforces our growing reputation as a vibrant place to visit. We want to build on this success throughout 2025 and continue to deliver quality events that people value. “Finally, I am delighted that we have been able to freeze all leisure activity prices for a third consecutive year, ensuring affordable access to facilities to support physical and mental well-being.”