Let’s unite and boost Ardglass

Let’s unite and boost Ardglass

18 May 2016

A PUBLIC meeting is to be held in Ardglass to discuss the formation of a new umbrella organisation to help spearhead a new regeneration initiative.

The Ardglass Development Association believes the new group can secure investment to develop a number of initiatives and help already established community groups and organisations flourish.

The public meeting is expected to take place within the next few weeks and a representative from interest groups across the village will be asked to join the new organisation which one senior community official believes can have a positive influence.

Ardglass Development Association chairwoman, Margaret Smyth, believes the umbrella group will be able to develop the village with everyone working together to make it an even better place to live, work, visit and do business in.

In the wake of recent negative publicity surrounding the village on social media, Mrs Smyth is confident everyone can work together to raise the profile of Ardglass on the new umbrella organisation.

She continued: “We are looking to set up a new structure which would represent all the various groups and business community in the village, with everyone working for the good of Ardglass. We are keen to see the village moving forward and I know the people who live here have pride in their village. It is not all doom and gloom and I believe things can and will improve with everyone working together. It is time for a new beginning.”

Mrs Smyth said the Development Association wants to move forward “in the best interests of Ardglass,” to promote the village in a positive way and build upon its tourism product. 

“It is important all the groups come together so they all know what is going on and we can move forward together. This would allow us to target a wider range of funders, hopefully be successful and distribute more money locally. I believe there are many more funding opportunities out there and if we all come together Ardglass will be the winner.

“Everyone wants to see continuing regeneration in the village and the new umbrella group would be able to drive this. The Ardglass Development Association’s prime motive has always been to do the best for the village. I joined this group because I wanted to see positive change in the village and nothing has changed.”

Mrs Smyth said she knows from speaking to many groups and individuals that people have the interest of their village at heart and are keen see Ardglass secure new investment and opportunities.

“A new organisation representative of all existing groups provides an opportunity to do something positive for Ardglass. Making Ardglass better is what drives the Development Association and I know many others share this view. We can achieve it by working together,” she continued.

“We believe Ardglass has much potential and there are people in many different groups who have skills and talents which we could use collectively for the benefit of everyone. People have been working away in their own respective groups and if we could all work together for the common good, Ardglass would be much the richer for it.”

Mrs Smyth said she is keen to see the success of Portaferry Regeneration replicated in Ardglass and revealed Development Association officials have already met their counterparts on the other side of Strangford Lough.

“Portaferry Regeneration has been very successful securing grant aid to purchase derelict buildings to redevelop and then lease out to provide an income stream which is ploughed back into the village. This is an example Ardglass could follow,” she suggested.

Mrs Smyth said she is positive about what the future holds for Ardglass with all the key players working together, adding: “We hope to arrange the public meeting shortly and I hope representatives from all groups in the village will attend so we can begin working in unison for the future good of Ardglass and its people.”