Council to tackle the 'big issues'

Participants will be asked their opinion on a range of issues affecting their communities including local race relations, equal opportunities and the issue of migrant workers.

The information and opinions obtained during these meetings will aid Council in their development of a Good Relations Strategy and action plan.

The new strategy will be developed through a partnership with four local Councils; Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle, but will contain separate action plans specifically tailored to each Borough.

It is hoped that these meetings will enable Councils to create action plans and priorities which are relevant to their local communities.

Joy Wisener, Good Relations Officer for Coleraine Borough Council explained the motivation behind the good relations strategy. She said; "We have been working closely with many local communities during recent years in a bid to improve relations.

"However, it is imperative that we regularly review our strategy whilst continuing to identify and highlight the current issues affecting our area. Council is equally as committed to providing support and encouragement to the many good community works already happening within out Borough."

The four participating Councils have appointed Rubicon and Blu Zebra, two specialised organisations, to work independently of Council to identify the issues and develop the strategy and action plans.

Peter Osborne of Rubicon and Therese Hogg of Blu Zebra said: "We are looking forward to the discussions we will have at the meetings and the priorities local people come up with for their own local areas. "

Getting feedback is critically important and we hope that as many people turn up as possible to inform this important new strategy."

Dates for your diary:

Open meetings for the public and community organisations in the Coleraine Borough will be held on Thursday, September 30 at 2:30pm in Portrush Town Hall, Monday, October 4 at 7.00pm in the Hampsey Hall, GADDA Building, Garvagh and on Wednesday, October 13 at 7.00pm in Coleraine Town Hall.