Ritchie launches £1.8million Coleraine community centre

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today cut the first sod of a new £1.8million community centre in Coleraine.

The new centre will incorporate dedicated recreation facilities for all ages including a purpose-built boxing gym, indoor and outdoor football and changing facilities, as well as a wet play area.

Margaret Ritchie said: “Communities are the lifeblood of our towns and cities. That is why 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 Department for Social Development has provided over £900,000 for the new centre, replacing the existing community centre in the Heights area of Coleraine, which is in very poor condition and is limited in the amount of community space it can provide.

A further £900,000 project funding has been provided by Coleraine Borough Council, who will also manage the facility.

Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor Sandy Gilkinson said: “On behalf of Coleraine I welcome Minister Richie to the Borough and thank her for taking the time to be here and be part of this important event. I look forward to this being the start of a productive partnership between the Department for Social Development and the Council and can not emphasise enough the importance of the Coleraine West Community Centre for the residents in this area.

"This project will provide a much required service and facility to the community in the Churchlands ward of Coleraine and I wholly support this project and I hope that residents positively benefit from the services that the centre will provide.”

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.
• 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.

2. The £905,592 will be provided through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund.

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