Ritchie reopens Newry gateway club

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, was in Newry tonight to officially reopen the premises of the Newry and District Gateway Club.

The building has been extensively refurbished thanks to a cash boost of over £45,000 from the Department for Social Development.

Speaking during a visit to the Gateway Club’s premises at Kilmorey Street, Newry, the Minister said: “Newry and District Gateway Club plays a hugely important role in the community. Since its foundation in 1973 it has gone from strength to strength thanks to the dedication of the many volunteers who give so freely of their time to help it run its services.

“I was shocked to learn that its premises were in a such an unsafe condition that it threatened the Club’s long term sustainability and I was delighted to be able to step in and offer the necessary funding to have them refurbished.”

The Minister also announced a further injection of cash for physical renewal schemes in the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal area. The Minister said: “Last month I announced funding of over £117,000 for a programme of works to upgrade footways and carriageways in a number of estates within the Newry Neighbourhood Area and also to extend the existing Greater Linenhall Community House. Tonight I can announce further funding of £90,000 to carry forward additional and complementary works such as entrance features and other environmental improvement works.”

The Minister concluded: “Today’s announcement, together with the funding packages which I announced earlier this year, amounts to a total investment of over £1.4million in the Newry Neighbourhood Renewal Area and is a clear indication of my commitment to help improve the quality of life for those living in the most deprived areas of Newry.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The overall cost of this project (refurbishment of the Newry and District Gateway Club) is around £45,000. To date DSD has funded projects to the value of £1.4million under Neighbourhood Renewal in the Newry area.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The Minister will open the premises tonight Thursday 20 December. 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