Limavady regeneration a top priority: Attwood

Speaking at a meeting with SDLP representatives from the area Stormont last week, Minister Alex Attwood emphases his commitment to the borough.

A Master Plan for Limavady town centre to be launched early in the New Year with the Minister stating that this would be held as "high priority".

Other issues in the borough were also discussed at length, with focus on the former Market Yard where there is plans to develop a retail park .

A comprehensive list of housing and urban regeneration issues were also raised. The minister indicated his intention to build ten new houses in Dungiven at Hass Road and has also asked officials to carry out another latent demand test survey to discover additional families who are in need of social housing.

This process will be repeated on a regular basis. If demand for housing remains constant the Minister has indicated he would be interested in acquiring property on the main street to help address the dereliction issue.

The minister has asked that every effort be made to encourage people to apply for housing as this serves as an indicator of housing need to housing associations responsible for social housing. Applications should be made with the Housing Executive.

The regeneration of Dungiven town was also high on the agenda. Unfortunately Dungiven falls outside the responsibility of the Department of Social Development, and is the remit of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Mr Atwood has promised to communicate with the agriculture minister on the issue.

A wide-ranging discussion on the future use of the 900 acre site at the former army barracks at Ballykelly indicated that there are serious issues which must be addressed by government to ensure that much of the land isn't reclaimed by the sea should the sea wall be breached should maintenance be neglected.

There may also be issues relating to contamination and all these and related matters cannot be ignored. Assembly Member John Dallat has renewed his call for a special task force to focus on this issue and others in a constituency which has been devastated by job losses over the last few years.

Speaking after the meeting, East Derry MLA John Dallat praised his colleague's commitment to his own constituency.

He said: I am satisfied that the Department of Social Development is very well aware of the serious problems that afflict my constituency and the minister and officials have the determination to work with other government departments to address the long-standing neglect of an area which has the potential to deliver new jobs provided government at assembly and local level are focussed and involved in the recovery plan."

Local SDLP councillors Michael Coyle, Michael Carten and Gerry Mullan have expressed their satisfaction with the meeting and have pledged their support for the special task force which has been called for.