19 January 2004
JOHN SPELLAR VISITS KILCOOLEY ESTATE AT BANGOR
The Kilcooley estate on the outskirts of Bangor is one of the areas that is to benefit from the Government’s Neighbourhood Renewal Plan, John Spellar, MP, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development, said today.
During a fact-finding visit to the housing estate, during which he met local representatives and viewed exhibits of the work undertaken by Kilcooley Community Forum, the Minister said: "The Government is acutely aware of the levels of deprivation in areas like Kilcooley and we are determined to improve the quality of life in the estate and in other disadvantaged areas throughout Northern Ireland."
His visit to Kilcooley followed the launch last week of the Neighbourhood Renewal Implementation Plan for regional towns and cities in Northern Ireland. This the latest stage in the Department for Social Development’s People and Place strategy.
Kilcooley is identified in the plan as one of the neighbourhoods that the Department intends to target for Neighbourhood Renewal. This will involve working in partnership with the local community and other statutory organisations to improve the lives of people living in the area. The Minister said: "The Government is determined to improve the quality of life in this estate and in other disadvantaged areas throughout Northern Ireland. My visit today has given me a personal insight into the problems on the ground and on the good work already carried out by the Community Forum.
"The daunting but exciting challenge now is to build on this and to deliver long-term improvement by combining the resources of Government with the knowledge and energy of local people Neighbourhood Renewal is about working in a strategic and co-ordinated way to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and that enjoyed by the rest of society."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Department for Social Development’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy "People and Place" can be found on the DSD website at
www.dsdni.gov.uk
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