Ritchie announces funding for Downpatrick projects
Friday, 19 October 2007An innovative telephone care service was one of three projects which received Neighbourhood Renewal funding of £222,000 from Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today.
The Minister was visiting Downpatrick where she also unveiled a sculpture of Saint Patrick at the Belfast Road Gateway into the town.
The telephone service, Good Morning Down, provides free telephone care for vulnerable adults throughout the Down District Council area. Making the announcement during a visit to the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Area, the Minister said: “Tackling deprivation is one of my top priorities. This funding package will allow three projects to get under way in the Downpatrick neighbourhood renewal area. The DSD contribution of £222,000 will lever in additional funding of £90,000 from other sources, making a total package of £312,000.
“In addition to the very worthwhile telephone care service, the package will provide specialist support for communities in the neighbourhood renewal area allowing them to contribute to the social, physical and economic development of their area. It will also help to improve the environment in Marian Park by resurfacing roadways and footpaths.”
The Minister said she hoped that the news will be welcomed by those in the area coming, as it does, so soon after the funding package of £476,000 announced last month.
Speaking at the unveiling of the St Patrick artwork, the Minister said: “No other place in Ireland can claim the same links with our patron saint as Downpatrick. This artwork builds on these links and will help to promote the name of Downpatrick and County Down across the world. The sculpture is modern and innovative and takes its place with other memories of St Patrick in this area.
“I hope that over time this sculpture will become a much loved feature and a symbol of the historic town of Downpatrick.”
The Minister was also shown a presentation on the proposed Ballymote Extension and new Sports Hall and paid tribute to all those in the area who have worked hard over the past number of years on this project. She concluded by congratulating the community and statutory representatives on their dedication to the Neighbourhood Renewal process and their desire to help to improve the quality of life of those living in the neighbourhood renewal area.
Notes to Editors:
1. The projects announced by the minister will cost £312,000 of which £222,000 will be neighbourhood renewal intervention funding.
2. The projects are:
- £22,000 for Good Morning Down for the extension of the project to concentrate on the Neighbourhood Renewal Area. The project commenced at the end of the summer and will last until 31/03/2010.
- £122,000 towards an overall project of £200,000 for an Inter-Estates Community Programme that will last until 31/03/2010. This project will provide specialist support and a programme of activities for the communities within the Neighbourhood Renewal area of Downpatrick. This will enable them to play an active role in their community so that they can make a positive contribution to the Social, Physical and Economic development of their area.
- £80,000 towards an overall project of £90,000 for the resurfacing of Marian Park, Downpatrick. This scheme will enhance the general environment within Marian Park through improving its appearance providing a safer environment for residents and visitors. The project will provide 2300 sq m of carriageway resurfacing and 400 sq m of footway resurfacing.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Previous funding was announced on the 21/09/2007.
6. Details of those involved in the design and construction of the Downpatrick Gateway Feature ‘The Journey’ are:
Designer
Melanie Jackson is a Civic and Urban Designer with Scott Wilson based in Chester.
Working as a design consultant on numerous urban regeneration schemes Melanie is able to identify the opportunity for sculpture, bespoke furniture and signage. She provides concept designs while working in collaboration with the landscape architect and details how these can be manufactured and integrated into the built environment.
Design Concept
In 2006 Scott Wilson prepared The Downpatrick Development Plan Report for Down District Council identifying several opportunities and proposals for the town. The Belfast Road Gateway Feature is the first project from the Development Plan to be implemented.
‘The Journey’ is a gateway feature combining the fabric of landscape with artwork and signage. The feature is representative of Saint Patrick’s return to Ireland, his mission to bring the Christian faith to the people there and his eventual final spiritual home of Downpatrick. A meandering sculptural natural stone wall is evocative of the saint’s journey, which eventually culminates into a Celtic like swirl. The stone swirl spirals the ‘sacred mound’ which has the purpose of providing a plinth to elevate the centrally positioned sculptural signage feature. A six metre high contemporary figure, representing St Patrick, fabricated from stainless steel is designed to an appropriate scale to create a visual impact to vehicular traffic approaching the town on the Belfast Road.
Every element of the Gateway Feature was fabricated and constructed by local contractors.
Scott Wilson Group plc
Scott Wilson is an international consultancy group providing leading, sustainable, integrated solutions to meet the planning, engineering, management and environmental needs of four principal market sectors: transportation, property, environment and natural resources.
It is responsible for the design of numerous award winning and innovative schemes throughout Northern Ireland.
7. 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.
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