Hanson Opens Ł1.7 Million Facelift For Omagh Town Centre

9 November 2006
HANSON OPENS Ł1.7 MILLION FACELIFT FOR OMAGH TOWN CENTRE
A Ł1.7 million refurbishment of the centre of Omagh was officially opened today by Social Development Minister David Hanson MP.
Streets in the centre of the town have been repaved with high quality natural stone, new street furniture has been fitted and the area has been landscaped. The paving materials give a flowing effect in the footpath, enhanced by a series of bronze plaques designed by local children on the theme of Happiness, as part of 'The Pupil's Eye' schools project.
Highlights of the changes include public art and the creation of a civic space in High Street which has been paved to provide a wide open space in front of the courthouse.
The area enhanced by the environmental improvement scheme covers Market Street, High Street, Bridge Street and Scarffe's Entry.
The Minister commended the spirit of the people of Omagh in rebuilding the lives and physical fabric of the town which was devastated by the 1998 bomb attack. He praised the partnership between his department and the local council in bringing the regeneration project to fruition. He said:
"Working together in such partnership brings a unique stamp of local identity to the projects, so that we do not end up with a series of identikit town centres.
"The spirit of the people of Omagh to look forward to a brighter and better future is reflected in the quality of these environmental improvements to the town centre."
The Chairman of Omagh District Council, Councillor Sean Begley, welcomed the support of the Department for Social Development in this and other schemes and said that the council was extremely pleased to be working in partnership with government.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The scheme cost Ł1,713,000 of which Ł1,513,000 was provided by the Department for Social Development, Ł100,000 by DRD Roads Service, and Ł100,000 by Omagh District Council.
2. The project was managed by a Steering Committee headed by Omagh District Council and including representatives from DSD, DRD, Omagh Business Forum and Omagh Chamber of Commerce.
3. The scheme was designed by Ferguson McIlveen and the main Contractors were McFadden Ltd of Omagh and Mountfield. Work commenced in April 2005 and was completed in October 2006.
4. Media enquiries to DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9078.

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