Ritchie announces £738,000 boost for Lurgan communities

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced that £738,000 has been approved for Neighbourhood Renewal projects in the Lurgan area since January.

The projects include a range of environmental improvements and the provision of enhanced community facilities to meet the needs to the residents of the Lurgan Neighbourhood Renewal area. These include:

• the demolition of the old St Mary’s Hall and the former community centre in the Shankill Estate which had become eyesores and were contributing to anti social behaviour in the area,
• the provision of external improvements to the Clann Eireann youth centre, and
• the construction of a new changing pavilion and other measures at the Tagnavean Sports complex.

The Minister said: “The provision of environmental enhancements is an important aspect of the Neighbourhood Renewal strategy which recognises the benefits of physical improvements as a means of developing a sense of community identity and pride. They help create safer, more attractive neighbourhoods where residents will want to live and bring up their families.”

The Minister also praised the work of those involved in providing community facilities and activities for residents such as Clann Eireann youth centre and the Tagnavean Sports Ltd project, a joint venture involving St Paul's GAA Club and Craigavon Borough Council. This scheme, which is being advanced in two phases, represents an overall investment of over £1million.

Phase one, which is being funded by St Paul’s GAC, Sport NI and Craigavon Borough Council involves the provision of sand based playing pitches at a cost of £585,000. Phase two, which is being funded by DSD through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund, involves the construction of a purpose built changing pavilion together with a car park and associated site works at a cost of just under £473,000.

The Minister said: “One of the key factors in successfully tackling deprivation and assisting regeneration is through a partnership approach involving the public, private and community sectors. I would like to congratulate all those involved in making these projects happen, particularly the Lurgan Neighbourhood Partnership who had identified the need for the schemes in its Vision Framework and Action Plan for regenerating the area. I am aware the Partnership has been working to review and update its action plan for the years ahead and I wish them every success going forward.”

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 Neighbourhood Renewal 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.

2. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078 or 07970 976894. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.