Council consult and what people want to see in Ballymena Town Centre

The council has been praised or its innovative approach to this consultation process, which is accompanied by a series of unique activities to enable people to experience events such as music, leisure, art, sport and other activities that can make our town a better place.

The aim of the public realm strategy is to try and identify what people want to see in their town centre.

Display boards will be on permanent display in the Braid building and at different locations throughout the town during the consultation process.

Speaking during the launch of the consultation, Anne Donaghy, Chief Executive of Ballymena Borough Council said: “Council identified the need to continually improve the town centre and commissioned this public realm strategy to identify what people want to see in their town centre for the future.

“Public realm is not just about better pavements, lighting, signage and buildings - it’s about people and place. It is really important that local people contribute to this process and have their say on Ballymena to help shape and make it an even better place.”

Mayor, Ald P J McAvoy said: “This method of consultation by Council is the first of its kind for Northern Ireland. I am delighted our approach here in Ballymena has been praised by two government Ministers. Council will plan the continued regeneration and revitalisation of the whole Borough together with our local people. We have a wealth of great people to make this a great place and as we work in partnership can see further benefits that will keep us ahead of the competition. I would ask everyone to contribute their views during the consultation period.”

The Mayor added: “the multi agency project team has been excellent and I thank all those involved for their work to date.”

Social Development Minister, Nelson McCausland, who is responsible for town centre regeneration, welcomed the consultation on the draft public realm strategy, said: “I commend Ballymena Borough Council for the progressive approach they are taking with this public consultation programme over the next few months. This innovative and highly visible survey approach of engaging directly with town centre users and listening to what they think about how they can make better use of the town will, I think, set the standard for other towns and cities to follow. It is a bold move and I look forward to hearing about the outcome of the process and seeing how it influences the planned public realm investment in ways that will encourage people to stay a while and enjoy all that the town can offer.

My Department is committed to working with Ballymena Borough Council and other people with an interest in the town’s future to get the best possible scheme from the strategy. We want to create a distinctive look and feel for the town centre that will help to stimulate private sector investment in property and buildings in the main shopping streets. I particularly welcome the input of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Architecture and Built Environment, which has helped us to identify specific design principles which should help to deliver a high quality strategy for the improvement of the public realm in Ballymena town centre.”

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) is sponsored by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. Speaking in response to the Council’s initiative Minister Carál Ní Chuilín MLA said, “I am fully committed to a collaborative and strategic approach to urban design and I welcome new methods which facilitate meaningful community engagement in public consultations. It is important that local people are given the opportunity to comment on and to express their aspirations for what is planned for the places where they live and work. Effective engagement brings about good design which can address the concerns of local people and in turn results in works and places which people can identify more closely with.

I am pleased that the Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), which advises me on the implementation of the policy on Architecture and the Built Environment, published by my Department in 2006 is assisting Ballymena Borough Council with the consultation process on its public realm strategy.  The constructive engagement that MAG has with DSD and others in the pursuit of good urban design in our towns and cities is important and I would encourage the other councils to engage with MAG when considering policies or proposals affecting the built environment in their areas.”