Ritchie announces £0.5million boost for Newry communities

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced that over £0.5million has been approved for Neighbourhood Renewal projects in the Newry area since January.

The projects cover a wide range of activities including:

• the provision of sports, music and arts equipment for community groups;
• the provision of a new community/education facility at St Malachy’s Primary School, Martin’s Lane;
• the upgrading of the roads and footways in Mourneview Park, Derrybeg, Carnagat, Barcroft & Drumalane the area and;
• the erection of fencing at the Derrybeg football pitch.

The Minister said: “These projects represent a major investment in the communities in the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area. They span the spectrum of environmental, social and community renewal and will serve as a vital means of developing a sense of community identity and pride and helping to create safer more attractive neighbourhoods where residents will want to live and bring up their families.”

The projects will provide, among other things, materials and equipment to enable community groups to provide a wide range of activities for people of all ages and will also facilitate adult learning programmes to take place in a community setting.

During the current financial year the Department for Social Development approved 15 projects at a total value of £1.17million in the Neighbourhood Renewal Area and a similar programme of work has been identified for the incoming year.

Ms Ritchie concluded: “This is a clear demonstration of my commitment to tackling disadvantage in the area. I would like to pay tribute to all those involved in making these projects happen, particularly the Newry Neighbourhood Partnership who had identified the need for the schemes in its Vision Framework and Action Plan for regenerating the area.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' which was published in June 2003, sets out government’s proposals for closing the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.

The Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:

• 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.
• Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

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