Margaret Ritchie had been invited to visit Kilcooley by Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP for the area. The Minister met the Kilcooley Community Forum and representatives of statutory organisations working in the community and had the opportunity to meet and talk to residents as she walked with Lady Hermon around the estate.
Speaking at the visit, the Minister said: “I am committed through my Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy to making a difference to the lives of people in the most disadvantaged estates such as Kilcooley. This latest funding will improve the infrastructure within the estate making it more accessible for local residents particularly for the disabled and parents with young children.”
In her meeting with local community representatives the Minister commented on the recent violence. She said: “I was disappointed with the recent violence as I am sure you were. I know that your community wants to see an end to violence. I want to pay special tribute to the hard work the representatives of the Kilcooley Forum and statutory partners have put into developing activities and projects to improve the estate. I would also like to thank you and those in the community that I have met for making me so welcome. Your continuing efforts that improve the quality of life for everyone here will, I know help us to move to a more peaceful society.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The Department for Social Development is currently funded Kilcooley Community Forum up to 31/03/2010.
2. Kilcooley Community Forum was established in 1997. It is an umbrella organisation consisting of representatives from local community groups, Churches, School and representatives of housing areas in the Kilcooley estate. Its aim is to work to improve the quality of life for all residents by addressing economic, social, environmental, educational and cultural issues affecting the community.
3. The project announced by the minister will cost £300k of which £290k will be NR Investment Funding. It completes the environmental works to replace carriageway, pathway and step renewal footpaths and brings the total amount spent on the estate on physical improvements to £800k during the last 2 years. The project will commence shortly and will last until 31/03/2008, it will be managed by DRD Roads Service.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. There was a small protest outside the Kilcooley Community Centre complaining about the Minister’s stance with regard to the Community Transformation Initiative.
7. Details of Kilcooley Community Forum can be obtained from their website at http://www.kilcooley.org
8. 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.
