Neighbourhood renewal making a difference in Coleraine

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today welcomed the difference made by the £1.25million Neighbourhood Renewal funding in Ballysally and Coleraine.

The Minister said: “I am pleased with the significant progress that is being made in the implementation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. Local residents are already beginning to see improvements in their everyday quality of life through local communities working hand in hand with statutory agencies and government to assist in the regeneration of their own areas.”

The two Neighbourhood Renewal areas in Coleraine, include the Millburn and Ballysally estates to the east and The Heights and Killowen estates to the west where Neighbourhood Partnerships have been established to lead in their regeneration.

The Minister pledged her ongoing support to ensure continued improvement in these areas. She went on to say: “I am committed to ensuring that residents living in deprived areas have the same life opportunities as the rest of society. I want to ensure that the people of Ballysally and Churchlands continue to benefit from the social, educational, physical and community projects that are already being delivered in these areas.”

Almost £765,000 has been allocated to ten projects in the Ballysally Neighbourhood Renewal Area with a further seven projects receiving funding of £483,536 in the Churchlands Neighbourhood Renewal Area.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy “People and Place” was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived
neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Its objectives include:

• Community Renewal – to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas;
• Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy;
• Social Renewal – to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments; and
• Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

2. The initiatives which have or are currently being supported include a range of social, educational, physical and community capacity building projects as follows: DSD website.

3. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.