'˜Collective voice' for Carrick town centre organisations

A new Town Centre Partnership has been established to represent the views of all organisations with an interest in Carrick's development.
Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership has identified eight areas in which it seeks to ensure representation. INCT 02-708-CONCarrickfergus Town Centre Partnership has identified eight areas in which it seeks to ensure representation. INCT 02-708-CON
Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership has identified eight areas in which it seeks to ensure representation. INCT 02-708-CON

Following four initial meetings, which were encouraged and supported by Mid and East Antrim Council staff, the partnership has appointed a chairperson and some area representatives.

The chair is former Councillor Noel Williams who manages the Alliance Party’s Advice facility in West Street.

Mr Williams said: “The partnership is an informal body which seeks to draw membership from the widest possible range of organisations situated and operating within the town centre; be they retailers, service providers, charitable facilities, social enterprise and third-sector associations.

Noel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CONNoel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CON
Noel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CON

“I am focussed on bringing town centre organisations together to allow it to strike a consensus around identifying common current issues and opportunities for future development, with the broad intention of providing a powerful, collective voice to its membership in order to enable more effective engagement with other stakeholders, local partnerships and associations, the local authority, and the many public and statutory bodies who have an input or influence within this area.

“In order to ensure fair and equitable participation and representation from across the town centre, CTCP has identified a number of areas within which it seeks to ensure representation, and thereby an equal voice within the partnership through area representatives.”

The eight areas currently identified (but may be re-defined or amended as the partnership matures) are: 1. Albert Road and St Brides Street; 2. Antrim Street, Castle Street and High Street; 3. Cheston Street, Market Place and West Street; 4. Courtyard, Joymount and Scotch Quarter; 5. DeCourcey Centre; 6. Irish Quarter South and Irish Quarter West; 7. Lancastrian Street and North Street; 8. Maritime and Rodgers Quay.

The chairman added that initially the main objectives are to “establish an effective and robust partnership” and through discussions at initial meetings develop emerging themes such as: image and marketing - Carrickfergus, car parking, events, reducing costs - potential training opportunities, funding opportunities and joint advertising., tourism potential.

Noel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CONNoel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CON
Noel Williams, chair of Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. INCT 02-703-CON

Partnership meetings will take place on the third Tuesday of the month and all are welcome. The next three are: January 19, February 16 and March 15 at 6.00pm in Carrickfergus Civic Centre and Museum.

Anyone interested in participating and contributing to CTCP is asked to contact the chair on 07739 191958 or [email protected]