Lisburn to benefit from £160,000

It will be one of a number of towns that will share the money which will be distributed across Northern Ireland.

Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman Lisburn City Centre Management said, “Following an application for funding made by Lisburn City Council to the Department of Environment, Lisburn is to receive £160,000 to help tackle dereliction. If we are to improve our City then we must tackle dereliction and eyesores. Over the past decade much good work has been done improving areas in the City Centre such Castle Gardens and the Bridge Street Townscape Heritage Initiative which has seen millions of pounds invested. In the coming year we will see a further £4m invested in the Public Realm improvements in the City Centre. ‘I welcome the fact that much of the funding will be quickly put to work in and around the City Centre further helping to make Lisburn City Centre an attractive place where people want to visit.’

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said that the money allocated will be split between Lisburn, Fermanagh, Belfast, Moyle and Down, and will be used to clear up hundreds of derelict sites.

Belfast will receive a package worth £300,000 for work on areas including Broadway and the Crumlin Road, while £380,000 will go to Fermanagh in the run-up to the G8 conference.

As well as Lisburn, Moyle is to get £100,000 and the Ballynahinch, Newcastle and Downpatrick areas get £60,000.

It comes after similar sums of money were spent on Portrush and Portstewart ahead of the Irish Open last year, and for Londonderry’s year as 
City of Culture.

SDLP minister Mr Attwood said: “Lisburn is this year’s European City of Sport, and our investment will see many areas in the city centre being given a real spruce up. Downpatrick, Ballynahinch and Newcastle will benefit from the funding boosting in these historic and seaside areas.”

He also pointed out: “This is good news for many areas and a further step on my programme to attack dereliction across Northern Ireland.

“Fermanagh will be very much in the international spotlight next year as hosts for the G8 summit. This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase its charms to the world.

“I was also keen to build on the very successful work done in Portrush and Portstewart last year. This funding means we will be able to extend the 
good work down the coast, removing eyesores in scenic coastal areas including Bushmills, Ballycastle, Waterfoot and Ballintoy.”