A new life for Drumbeg

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie cut the ribbon last Thursday and boosted residents with further good news of a 105,000 footpath upgrade scheme for the area.

The environmental improvement project has transformed an area of vacant Housing Executive land overlooking the Drumbeg roundabout into an enclosed garden area with a number of specially commissioned sculptures and interactive lighting.

The 100,000 scheme was funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund and the Re-imaging Communities Programme, led by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The minister said: "This is great news for the people of Drumbeg. This environmental improvement scheme will help develop a sense of community identity and pride and help create a safer and more attractive neighbourhood where residents will want to live and bring up their families. It will regenerate an interface area and I know it will be welcomed by the residents in the area."

The project involved a number of statutory bodies, local community representatives and the Brownlow Neighbourhood Partnership, which identified the need for regenerating the area in its Vision Framework and Action Plan. The local community were actively involved in the design process, while the Housing Executive provided the necessary land for the project. Craigavon Borough Council managed the scheme and will ensure responsibility for its future maintenance, with the assistance of local community representatives.

Mrs Ritchie acknowledged the important role played by all those involved saying: "One of the key factors in successfully tackling deprivation and assisting regeneration is through a partnership approach involving the public, private and community sectors. This project is an excellent example of a number of statutory bodies working with community representatives to deliver real benefits for deprived communities."

Roisn McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Chair of the Shared Communities Consortium, said: "The Re-imaging Communities Programme is committed to building a shared future for Northern Ireland that is founded on partnership, equality and mutual respect.

"The completion of this artwork in Drumbeg is the result of the community’s joint efforts. Working with two artists from Red Apple Arts, they have created a new communal space which has enriched the environment and provided an opportunity for local people to work together towards one common objective."

The garden project is a further step in improving the landscape of the Drumbeg area which recently benefited from a 40,000 programme of environmental works including the fencing in of open gable walls to prevent graffiti, also funded by DSD.

The Minister also announced a further funding boost of 105,000 for a programme of works to upgrade the footpaths in the Drumbeg Estate. Work is due to begin in the next few weeks.