News Release Page Title

9 March 2006

CAUSEWAY COAST TOWNS ARE IN LINE FOR £770,000 PACKAGE

Coleraine, Ballymena and Ballycastle are to benefit from more than £770,000 worth of environmental improvements in the coming months.

David Hanson announced the funding during a visit to Articlave near Coleraine today where he met Gregory Campbell, MP for East Londonderry, and representatives from local communities about the difficulties faced by their areas.

The Minister said: "Since September, I have held more than 50 meetings with elected representatives and community leaders on the problems of deprivation and what the Government can do to regenerate our towns and communities. I am glad to be able to come to the Coleraine area today to be able to hear the views of people from this part of Northern Ireland on these issues.

"Over the past four years, DSD has invested more than £1.8 million in community based regeneration projects in Coleraine alone and we are actively working on other projects that could help bring major investment to Coleraine town centre and Portrush in the next few years.

"Since the start of this year, DSD has awarded funding of £600,000 to projects worth £770,000 in Coleraine, Ballymena and Ballycastle. These projects will help regenerate these town centres and improve the quality of life for people living in deprived communities. This area is also one of Northern Ireland's prime tourist centres. By investing in improvements to the sea front in Ballycastle for example, we are helping to make the area more attractive for the many visitors, from Northern Ireland and overseas who flock here during the summer months."

The Minister went on to say that he will soon be releasing a major plan on how the government will address deprivation across Northern Ireland.

"The Government recognises that tackling deprivation is not easy and that there is still much more that needs to be done We need to develop more integrated approaches to local regeneration. This will take time and involve new ways of working but is necessary to ensure that the significant resources already deployed link together to make a sustainable impact."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Minister met over 20 local community leaders and politicians including Gregory Campbell MP MLA; David McClarty MLA; Cllr Maurice Bradley and Cllr Timothy Deans, Mayor of Coleraine. The community representatives were from the villages of Articlave, Aghadowey, Garvagh, Kilrea and Moneydig, the Ballysally and Windyhall areas of Coleraine and the Dhu Varren area of Portrush.

2. The schemes which DSD has supported in Coleraine, Ballymena and Ballycastle are as follows:

  • Street lighting improvements in Ballysally (Total cost: £160,000, DSD funding: £120,000, DRD £40,000)
  • New paving and street lighting, removal of security barriers and resurfacing of Mill Street and lower Wellington Street in Ballymena (Total cost: £122,502, DSD funding: £61,256, DRD input £61,256)
  • Street lighting upgrade in Ballee Drive, Ballymena (Total cost £43,000, DSD funding: £43,000)
  • Street lighting and footpath upgrades in Lanntara, Ballymena (Total cost £274,029, DSD funding £274,029)
  • Seafront improvement scheme, Ballycastle (Total cost £172,000, DSD funding £100,000, Moyle District Council input: £72,000)

3. For further information please contact the Information Office on 028 9082 9078.

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