Hanson Visits Dunclug To Listen To Local Concerns

16 August 2006
HANSON VISITS DUNCLUG TO LISTEN TO LOCAL CONCERNS

The Social Development Minister David Hanson MP today embarked on a tour of Dunclug housing estate in Ballymena.
The Minister was there to see at firsthand, the work being done to improve the quality of life for the local community and to listen to community concerns for the future of the area.
Mr Hanson said: "It is very encouraging to see the progress being made in this estate by the Dunclug Partnership. In addition to initiatives to address such problems as drugs and anti-social behaviour, they have also set environmental improvement schemes in place to halt such problems as rubbish dumping."
During his visit, the Minister also met with the Chair and members of the Dunclug Partnership. He listened to their plans for tackling local concerns and regenerating the area.
Following the meeting, Minister Hanson said: "I must congratulate the Dunclug Partnership on the work they have done to date to improve the lives of the local community, for prioritising the key issues and putting together plans for the future. Work of this kind deserves the support of government.
"I look forward to seeing the Partnership's proposals for funding from the new Areas at Risk Pilot programme, which is part of the government's Renewing Communities strategy. This community has already shown that with the right support it has got what it takes to develop and articulate plans to tackle the wide-ranging problems that it faces. Together with the Department for Social Development and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive I am sure we can work together to tackle disadvantage and help regenerate this community."
NOTES TO EDITORS:

The new 'Areas at Risk' programme is part of the government's Renewing Communities strategy. It was set up to address the particular reasons why some areas in Northern Ireland are in decline. The pilot programme has a budget of Ł3 million over two years. The Dunclug area is one of 10 in Northern Ireland to be included in the pilot programme. The other nine areas are: Ligoneil; Sydenham; Taughmonagh; Ballynoshollog; Enogh; Rathenraw, Antrim; Seacourt, Larne; Dhu Varren and Glenmanus, Portrush; Tavanagh, Portadown.

The Neighbourhood Renewal strategy "People and Place" and the "Renewing Communities" Action Plan are available on the DSD website www.dsdni.gov.uk.

During his visit, the Minister met with Cllr. Maurice Mills; Cllr. PJ McAvoy; Barry Gordon, Chairperson, Dunclug Partnership; Majella McAllister, Director, Ballymena Local Strategy Partnership; Jackie Patton, Good Relations Unit, Ballymena Borough Council; Colum Best, Project Manager, Dunclug Partnership; Aidan Donnely, Economic Development Officer, Ballymena Borough Council and John Stuart, Acting Chairperson, Ballymena North Partnership. Minister will be accompanied by Henry Johnston, Mary Hamilton (Regional Development Office); Christine Marks (District Manager, Northern Ireland Housing Executive) and Tom Kiernan (Voluntary and Community Unit).

Media queries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496.

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