Community representatives in Donaghadee, County Down, have called on Ards and North Down Borough Council to prioritise capital investment in local sports facilities. They highlighted recent council announcements of £6.5 million for a 3G pitch and sports complex in Portaferry and nearly £3 million for a similar pitch in Portavogie.

Plans for a £9.5 million shared sports hub in Donaghadee were first proposed in 2014 but did not progress, with local clubs opting for individual facility improvements instead. The Donaghadee Community Development Association (DCDA) has urged the council to clarify its capital priorities and provide a timetable for enhanced sports provision.

John Caldwell, DCDA honorary secretary, noted that a 2014-2020 Pitches Strategy identified Donaghadee as a priority due to deficiencies in football, rugby, and cricket facilities. He stated that the town's population has doubled since 1981, making it the fastest-growing in the borough, and increasing the need for modern sports infrastructure.

Caldwell referenced repeated discussions and briefings over the past decade that raised hopes but led to no progress. He welcomed a pump track funded under the PEACEPLUS programme but said it does not address pitch and broader sports infrastructure needs.

Ricky Robinson, secretary of Donaghadee Youth Football Club, reported that over 300 people supported his online proposal for a 3G/4G pitch at Cromelin Park, submitted via the council's citizen engagement platform. He described Donaghadee as lacking publicly funded winter outdoor 3G pitches and leisure centres compared to similar-sized towns.