Have your say on development of rural areas

BANBRIDGE District Council is giving communities in rural parts of the district the opportunity to have a say on how they would like to see their area developed over the next few years.

The council will hold consultations with the communities of Gilford, Scarva, Loughbrickland, Lawrencetown, Lenaderg, Tullylish, Corbet, Katesbridge, Moneyslane, Kinallen, Annaclone, Finnis, Waringsford, Leitrim and Ashfield/Gowdystown.

The aim of these consultations is to identify issues facing the community in each area as well as assess their future needs. The resulting plans that follow will be used to secure funding to support a range of regeneration projects in each area.

Responsible for managing the project, Council Community Development Officer Robert Stockley said: “It is important that communities in these areas attend these consultation sessions and highlight what steps they feel could be taken to improve their area because the final plans will influence decisions that affect their village environment not just now but for years to come.”

Initial consultation sessions to identify issues in each area will take place in the next two weeks as follows:

Annaclone - Thursday 3 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, St Colman’s P.S.

Ashfield/Gowdystown - Friday 4 May - 7pm-8pm, Quilly Orange Hall

Corbet - Friday 4 May - 5.30pm-6.30pm, Anglers Rest

Finnis* - Thursday 3 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Venue TBC

Gilford - Tuesday 24 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Gilford Community Centre

Kinallen, Finnis & Waringsford - Wednesday 2 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Fair Hill P.S.

Lawrencetown, Lenaderg & Tullylish - Thursday 26 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Laurencetown Community Centre

Lenaderg* - Friday 27 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Bannville House Hotel

Leitrim - Monday 30 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Leitrim GAA Club

Loughbrickland - Friday 27 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Newbridge Integrated College

Katesbridge* - Wednesday 2 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Shanaghan Orange Hall

Moneyslane & Katesbridge - Tuesday 1 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Drumadonnell P.S.

Scarva - Wednesday 25 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Scarva Visitor Centre

Tullylish* - Friday 27 April - 5.30pm-7.30pm, All Saints Church Hall

Waringsford* - Thursday 3 May - 5.30pm-7.30pm, Waringsford Orange Hall

* These sessions are for those who are unable to attend the joint sessions but will be unmanned.

These will then be followed by further consultation sessions on the draft and final village plans for each area.

It is costing over £95,000 to prepare the full set of plans but 80% of this was provided by from NI Housing Executive and Down Rural Area Partnership through the NI Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

Further details are available at www.banbridge.gov.uk or alternatively, contact the Council’s Leisure and Development Department on 4066 0605.