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22 August 2006

HANSON KICKS OFF NEW ERA FOR STRABANE SPORTS CENTRE

A further boost to the Melvin Hall Sports Complex in Strabane was launched today by Social Development Minister David Hanson.

The added facilities cost £444,000 and include an upgraded athletics track and improvements to the sports hall. Strabane District Council contributed £274,000 and £170,000 came from the Department for Social Development (DSD) under its Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, administered by the North West Development Office.

This is in addition to the original scheme when the external facilities were extended and upgraded to include two sand carpet pitches, multi-sport synthetic floodlight pitch, community walking/cycle paths and site fencing. The cost of the original scheme was £840,000.

Overall DSD has contributed £630,000 to the total project cost of £1,284,000.

Speaking in Strabane today, the Minister said:

"This is the second phase of the upgrading of the Melvin Hall. The new features are additional to those provided in 2004 including all-weather pitches, floodlighting and walking and cycle paths. These have already attracted many more users to the complex and I am sure that Phase II of the development will be equally successful.

"The sports hall now has been upgraded with better changing rooms, a new community meeting room and offices with facilities for people with disabilities. The highlight of the changes is the much improved athletics track. This will allow Strabane to host high profile events, something which has not been possible in the past.

"This is not just about winning gold medals but improving the health of residents of Strabane. Almost one in six people living in the town feel their general health is not good. I hope many of them will take advantage of the new facilities at Melvin Hall to improve their fitness. "

Strabane District Council owns Melvin Hall and has plans for further improvements. Council Chairman Thomas Kerrigan said:

"The re-development of Melvin Park has been one of the most significant changes within Strabane. The first class facilities, which are the pride of the local community, transform the physical environment and create new opportunities for sports participation. The involvement of local people, through the Melvin reference group, has been the key to the success of this project. The site is already living up to our expectations with increased usage showcasing local talent and regional fixtures such as the Special Olympics and the Foyle Cup."

The recently-formed Strabane Neighbourhood Partnership has just completed a Neighbourhood Action Plan developed through a process of consultation. This was the first Neighbourhood Action Plan to be developed across Northern Ireland and is part of the DSD Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy targeting deprivation in disadvantaged communities.

Paul Gallagher, chair of the Strabane Neighbourhood Partnership, added: "This is the beginning of a process that will bond an inter-sectoral partnership that has been engaging in needs analysis, local consultation and action planning of this local area. This is the first of its kind - an East meets West if you like. This physical renewal project is the start of a vision that will strengthen both the social and economic capital within this neighbourhood utilising the collaboration between local people on the ground and a broad range of agencies."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Melvin Hall Sports Complex was opened in 1975. Facilities were upgraded in 2004 with assistance of £260,000 from DSD's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and £200,000 from PEACE 11 Measure 2.11 to include two sand carpet pitches, multi-sport synthetic floodlit pitch, community walking/cycle paths and site fencing. The second phase consisted of upgrading the sports hall and athletics track. This phase of the project cost £444,000 with £170,000 from DSD's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. Overall the total cost of the entire scheme is £1,284,000 of which DSD contributed £630,000.

  2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Its objectives include:

    • Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
    • Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
    • Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
    • Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

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