Strathfoyle pitch greenlight welcomed by EYF

That’s according to the Enagh Youth Forum, which has welcomed a decision at last week’s Derry City Council (DCC) Planning Committee to approve the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).

In a statement the Forum said: “All local groups including ourselves have been working over the few years in partnership with DCC to highlight the neglect of our area in terms of service provision as well as coming up with positive ideas and solutions to help combat what we view as years of neglect.

“Also approved at last week’s planning meeting was the extension of three new units at Strathfoyle Village Centre as well as additional car parking.

“This is a very much welcome development and will hopefully go some way in bringing about investment in the Strathfoyle area as well as much needed employment in construction jobs in the short term.”

The Forum also welcomed the approval of an application to build eleven new houses in Strathfoyle.

“Also approved was eleven houses by Trinity Housing. We at the EYF agree in principle with this recent development, however, it is very clear from talking to local residents in Moyglass Place that further public consultations are required as residents have every right to request reassurance.“It is the view of many local residents that priority should be giving to those local people from Strathfoyle who find themselves homeless at this time.

“We at EYF have written to Trinity Housing to ask that they come back to a public meeting with local residents prior to the project moving into any construction phase.”

The Forum said the recent developments will help bring Strathfoyle on a par with other parts of the city.

“All of these recent planning approvals will go some way in bringing Strathfoyle into par with a lot of other communities in Derry but will mean nothing unless our elected representatives and local council become more pro active in securing the funding that these projects necessitate to come into fruition. This is something that we at EYF will continue to lobby got over the coming weeks.

“We are also patiently awaiting the outcome of a recent funding application submitted in 2014 by RAPID on behalf of all local community groups here and we are due a decision in the coming weeks. If successful this could see the much awaited okay park project come to life.

“The application has been submitted to the Big Lottery Fund Spaces and Places a Programme and is for a total of £350,000.”