Ritchie announces £500,000 boost for Lurgan communities

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced a further funding boost of £500,000 for the Lurgan Neighbourhood Renewal area.

This will help fund a number of projects in the area, which, include a range of measures to meet the needs of local residents. Projects include:

• the provision of a multi use games area and a major football pitch reconstruction project at Clann na Gael GFC at a cost of around £450,000;
• the introduction of an alley-gating scheme to reduce anti social behaviour at the Wakehurst Estate at a cost of £28,600; and
• the provision of new computers at the Mount Zion House training suite.

Margaret Ritchie said: “These projects will provide much needed facilities, particularly for the youth of the area, and will help to reduce anti social behaviour. This is a major investment in the Lurgan area and will help create safer, more attractive neighbourhoods where residents will want to live and bring up their families.”

The Minister praised the work of those involved in developing the projects including Lurgan Shankill Projects Ltd, Clann na Gael GFC, the Housing Executive, Craigavon Borough Council and the Craigavon Community Safety Partnership. She also paid tribute to the Lurgan Neighbourhood Partnership who had identified the need for the schemes in its Vision Framework and Action Plan for regenerating the area.

Margaret Ritchie concluded: “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.

"These projects are an excellent example of a number of statutory bodies working with community representatives to deliver real benefits for deprived communities.”

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.
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