8 September 2003
ECONOMY MINISTER MEETS WITH DELEGATION FROM DERRY CIVIC REGENERATION FORUM
Economy, Finance and Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson, MP, today met a multi-party delegation from Londonderry, representing the city’s Civic Regeneration Forum, to discuss the economic prospects for the North West. Senior officials from a number of departments were also present to report on the current state of the economy and development plans.
Following his meeting with the delegation headed by the Mayor of Derry City Council, Cllr Shaun Gallagher, Ian Pearson said:
"I very much welcome this meeting. What I am keen to see is a new focus on partnership – not just partnership between key players in the North West, but a partnership between all bodies, including government departments and agencies.
"The government is committed to the development of Derry and the North West. It is already making an important contribution. I promised that there would be a new focus on the delivery of real improvements and that is borne out in the creation of the new urban regeneration company - Ilex - which harnesses the powers and energies of the public and private sectors.
"This is not going to be an overnight task. It is going to be a long haul, as Ilex chairman Alan McClure has pointed out. Everyone involved will have to work together over a sustained period. It is very appropriate therefore that Ilex represents such a wide spectrum of opinion. I believe strongly that all of those with an interest in building for the future must pull together to achieve the demanding programme that the regeneration of Derry, including key sites such as Ebrington and Fort George, will require. That such a cross-party and multi-interest delegation is lobbying government today for the betterment of their city and surrounding area is a most positive and encouraging sign.
"I am delighted to say that Ilex - working with all key stakeholders including the Forum, the council and the relevant government agencies - is preparing a major bid against the Integrated Development Fund that I set up some months ago. I look forward to receiving the formal bid as soon as it is ready but I want to emphasise that important though this will be, it is very much an interim measure, and a comprehensive integrated strategy needs to be developed. Ilex are currently working to formulate an overall masterplanning framework for the physical, social and economic regeneration of the Derry City Council area, again in partnership with all of those involved, and I am confident this ground breaking work will pay dividends in the future."
Derry, as well as West Belfast and Greater Shankill and the County Down fishing villages, will be amongst the first to bid for funding from the £50m pot set up a few months ago by the IDF.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The representatives in the Civic Regeneration Forum include the local MP, MEP, MLAs representing the Derry City Council area, party leaders in Derry City Council, Chairman of the City Marketing Committee, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, University of Ulster, North West Institute of Further and Higher Education, the North West Region Cross Border Group and the Local Strategy Partnership. The Forum creates a consensus on local issues and ensures that government policy and programmes reflect the needs and aspirations of both Derry and the North West Region. The delegation attending the meeting with the Minister included Mayor, Cllr Shaun Gallagher, John Hume MP MEP, Alderman William Hay MLA, Mitchell McLaughlin MLA, Mark Durkan MLA, Cllr Barney O Hagan, Niall Birthistle, Professor Tom Fraser, Dr Alan McClure and Tony McGurk
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