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27 March 2006

BRANDYWELL EYESORE TRANSFORMED INTO INTERACTIVE PARK

Residents in the Brandywell's Bluebellhill Gardens have helped to transform a piece of overgrown land into an interactive community garden.

The project, costing over £80,000 has been supported by the Big Lottery Fund via the Creating Common Ground Consortium and the Department for Social Development's North West Development Office. It consists of a vertical piano, sound features, an echo chamber, mosaics and metal panelling designed by local young people. The land has been provided by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, which will be a key partner in the future development of the garden with the local community.

Margaret Miskelly, Department for Social Development, Sam McPherson, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Conor Heaney, Bogside Brandywell Initiative and Leonard Sproule, Creating Common Ground Consortium pictured with local children at the official launch of the Brandywell's Bluebellhill GardensSocial Development Minister David Hanson MP said: "One of the key aims of Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is to improve the environment and image of our most deprived areas so that they become attractive places in which to live. Vacant land offers real opportunities for local regeneration schemes such as this one in Bluebellhill Gardens.

"I was very encouraged to hear about the active involvement of local residents in the development of this park which I hope will build new hope and pride and improve the quality of life in this community.

"No one organisation can deal with all of the problems of deprived neighbourhoods on its own. Regeneration efforts must be based on real partnerships between communities, Government, the wider statutory sector and the community and voluntary sectors."

Speaking on behalf of the Creating Common Ground Consortium, Programme Manager Leonard Sproule said:

"Neighbourhood regeneration initiatives need the active involvement of the local community. The Creating Common Ground Project Team has been instrumental in the transformation of the area, working with local community and voluntary organisations and government agencies to begin to create a sustainable community and a safe, attractive, vibrant neighbourhood. Working with community representatives to identify need and prioritising projects that meet the aspirations of local people, the Project Team has been able to attract funding to improve the social and physical fabric of the neighbourhood."

The Brandywell is a highly built up area with limited play facilities for young people and a lack of green space. The scheme was designed and project managed by Groundwork NI in conjunction with the Bogside Brandywell Initiative.

Margaret Miskelly, Department for Social Development, Conor Heaney, Bogside Brandywell Initiative and Mayor of Derry, Councillor Lynn Fleming pictured at the official opening of Bluebellhill GardensConor Heaney, Implementation Officer for the Bogside Brandywell Initiative, said: "This project resulted from community consultation and the aim was to redevelop this waste ground into a unique, attractive and vibrant space. We intend involving local people, particularly young people, in the parks development and in community art initiatives that will flow from the opening of this interactive facility.

"We are also confident that this park may prove to be a tourist attraction and we are working with Derry City Council in a wider tourism strategy which may involve certain economic spin offs for the entire Brandywell area."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Picture captions:

Picture 1 - Margaret Miskelly, Department for Social Development, Sam McPherson, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Conor Heaney, Bogside Brandywell Initiative and Leonard Sproule, Creating Common Ground Consortium pictured with local children at the official launch of the Brandywell's Bluebellhill Gardens.

Picture 2 - Margaret Miskelly, Department for Social Development, Conor Heaney, Bogside Brandywell Initiative and Mayor of Derry, Councillor Lynn Fleming pictured at the official opening of Bluebellhill Gardens.

1. The total project cost was £85,000 of which £25,000 has been awarded through Phase II of DSD's Neighbourhood Renewal programme. The Creating Common Ground Consortium, a partnership involving statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies in Northern Ireland, has provided the remaining £60,000. In addition to providing the site for the garden, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, also funds the Bogside Brandywell Initiative Implementation Officer.

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

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