DSD June Round Up

This is a round up of the comings and goings in June 2010

The month began with the transformation of Larne. Plans were unveiled on 2^nd of June. The Shared Neighbourhood Steam Train signaled a bright future for Coleraine on the 3^rd and Farrans Construction receive an award for their work on the Belfast Streets Ahead project. On the 4^th, it was time for a bit of fun down at Laganside as Minister Attwood showed off his skills or more like, showed no fear when he took the co-pilot seat in a Zapcat. Great photos on the website for this one.

Kicking off the next week on 7^th June,the Minister met up with one of Belfast’s oldest residents Ellen Lawther age 101 at the launch of Abbeyfield Week at the Waterfront. On the 9^th he started the building work on a £6.4million housing scheme in Bangor, later that day he opened the Ballycastle Gateways.

And so to West Belfast on the 11^th for a cuppa tea with the residents in New Barnsley to inspect a kitchen replacement scheme. On the 12^th it was down to Pat Jennings country in Newry to open a new sports pitch in High Street. Businesses will be given a bigger say in how our City Centres look if new legislation is passed said Minister Attwood on the 14^th June and later that afternoon the Department announced another landmark as the funding to organizations in the North West for Neighbourhood Renewal topped £7 million.

On 16^th June the Minister attended 2 events to launch new £500,000 facilities in Lurgan and a new playground and sensory garden at an Irish Language Nursery School. He headed to Ballymena on 17^th to open the new Jobs & Benefits office and then on to Enniskillen to clear the way for 200 new homes at a former military base. Later in the day he opened newly renovated premises to be used for First Housing Aid and Support Service and then launched the local Neighbourhood Renewal Volunteering Report.

Regeneration took the lead the following day 18^th, when Minister launched consultations for the regeneration of Glengormley and Ballyclare. Five days later on the 23^rd the Antrim Masterplan was launched.

The Department launched a Warm Healthier Homes consultation document on the 28^th as Minister urges people to take up benefits they may be entitled to. The Department announced the name of the firm to assess potential for regeneration of Omagh on the 29^th. Later that evening the Minister met members of the Colin Neighbourhood Partnership.

On the final day of the month the Newtownards Masterplan was unveiled by Minister who also called on developers to register their interest for the purchase and regeneration of the vacant Curran Street site in Portadown.

Many of these stories, consultations, publications and press releases can be found on our website www.dsdni.gov.uk . Keep up to date on a regular basis.