Minister Ritchie announces almost £1million funding for Coleraine West Community Centre

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today announced funding of £905,592.00 towards the costs of a new Community Centre in the West Bann area of Coleraine.

The proposal will involve the replacement of the current community centre at the Ropewalk which is in very poor condition and is limited in the amount of community space it can provide.

Speaking about her announcement the Minister said: “I welcome this announcement today for a new community centre in Coleraine. I want to target resources in a way which has maximum impact and I want to work with communities to achieve that.”

“Communities are the lifeblood of our towns and cities and I want our urban regeneration projects to deliver shared public space, places that people from all communities can access and enjoy. This new community centre in Coleraine will be an excellent example of this.”

The new centre will be a broad recreation facility incorporating a community centre with unique facilities such as a boxing gym, indoor and outdoor football facilities including changing facilities, and a wet play area.

The Minister went on to say that: “The provision of environmental enhancements is an important aspect of the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. It recognises the benefits of physical improvements as a means of developing a sense of community identity and pride. It also helps to create a safer more attractive neighbourhood where residents will want to live and bring up their families. This new community centre in Coleraine will help encourage social cohesion in this Neighbourhood Renewal area.”

The project which is estimated to cost a total of £1,811,184 is being jointly funded by the Department of Social Development (DSD), through its Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund, and Coleraine Borough Council. It will complement projects already funded through neighbourhood renewal in Coleraine West, including street lighting and a range of community and sports related projects

The Mayor of Coleraine, Councilor David Barbour, said: “This is a welcome announcement by Minister Richie to further invest in Coleraine’s community. The project has been ongoing for a number of years through partnership groups and council officers. Obviously, this has been time well spent in that it has now ensured services and facilities that are appropriately designed and fit the specific needs of the community. Our local infrastructure is greatly strengthened with a modern asset that our rate payers so richly deserve.

The current centre facilitates over 400 users per week from all sectors of the community, so it is vitally important to retain this hub of activity. I also believe it is highly important to secure a long term future for community facilities West of the Bann, this centre will support our residents in doing so.”

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 the areas
• Economic Renewal – to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy
• Physical Renewal – to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods
• 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.

2. The £905,592.00 will be funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund.

3. Media enquires to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078. Out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.