Traders to share £77k funding pot

The Spruce-Up programme, being delivered by the Department for Social Development, aims to improve the look of Dunluce Street, Lower Cross Street, Point Street and Bridge Street in the hope of attracting more shoppers to the area.

The scheme will see a range of work being carried out to shop fronts and gable walls, including painting and minor repairs to plaster, woodwork, gutters, downpipes and windows. Gutters are also to be cleaned out and any roof vegetation will be removed.

Other work will include fencing off any vacant sites in the area, and the introduction of new bollards and street lighting on Dunluce Street to improve pedestrian safety. Double yellow lines were put in place on Dunluce Street earlier this year in a bid to ease the flow of traffic in the area.

All businesses and property owners in the area have now been advised of the details of the scheme and encouraged to submit applications for a share in the funding pot. The grant will be available until March 31, 2012.