The £3.2million centre comprises a sports hall, café, meeting rooms, crèche facilities and seven business units that are now all fully let. The centre is also currently being used by Tesco as the recruitment centre for its new store in Ballymena, which will be sited within the Ballymena Neighbourhood Renewal Area.
The Minister then visited the Dunclug Estate, which has been designated an Area at Risk, and met with office bearers of the Dunclug Partnership and Dunclug and District Residents' Association. Speaking after this meeting the Minister said:
“I and my Department remain committed to driving forward actions within the Dunclug Action Plan. These actions seek to address key concerns with regard to the physical condition of the estate, crime and anti social behaviour and community cohesion and youth issues within the Dunclug Estate.
“I am impressed by the positive steps that have taken place already and would compliment all those who have contributed. This is just the start and there is still significant work to be done to ensure that deprivation is tackled at all levels and with all communities on the Dunclug Estate.
“I am determined that my Department will seek to address disadvantage wherever it exists, and regardless of community background, be it in a traditionally mixed estate such as Dunclug or in a more single identity estate, such as Balllykeel which I visited last week.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to visit the new Naomi Centre Women’s Aid premises at Cullybackey Road in Ballymena and congratulated staff and volunteers on the excellent support provided through the premises to victims of domestic violence.
Notes to Editors:
1. The Dunclug Action Plan was launched in November 2006. It covers a four year period between January 2007 and March 2011.
2. The Dunclug Action plan includes funding of:
At least £3 million from the NIHE for the Estate Strategy
£1.25 million from DSD's EI budget for improvements to street lighting
£240,000 from the Department's Areas at Risk Programme and
£500,000 for community based projects ring fenced for use in Dunclug
3. The ‘Areas at Risk Pilot Programme’ (AaR) was launched in June 2006 to provide support to communities outside the Noble 10% indicators of most disadvantage but at risk of economic, social or environmental decline. The programme focuses on building social cohesion within the area; confidence in dealing with neighbouring communities and building a wider sense of belonging.
4. The pilot programme has a budget of £3 million over two years (2006/07 and 2007/08).
5. The 10 pilot Areas at Risk identified are:
parts of Ligoniel and Sydenham (not previously covered by Neighbourhood Renewal)
Taughmonagh in Belfast
Ballynoshollag in Londonderry
Enogh in Limavady (Greystone Road, Enogh Park, Scroggy Close)
Dunclug in Ballymena
West Portadown
Rathenraw Estate in Antrim
Dhu Varren/Glenmanus in Portrush
Seacourt in Larne
6. For me
dia enquiries contact 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.
