Meeting looks at developing blueprint for Downpatrick

Meeting looks at developing blueprint for Downpatrick

5 October 2016

DOWNPATRICK has taken the first step towards setting up a new body to represent the interests of the business community and develop a long term strategy for its future economic regeneration.

While only a handful of representatives from the business community attended a meeting in the town last week to discuss the way forward, those who did turn up agreed to start planning for the town’s future development.

A small working group is to be formed to consider what is possible in terms of setting up a new body and what its aspirations should be, with Newry, Mourne and Down Council promising to provide whatever support it can to give to the business community.

Billed as an information evening, last week’s meeting was addressed by businessman Stephen Magorrian, Colin Neill, the chief executive of Hospitality Ulster and a former town centre manager in Ballymena and Belfast, Patricia Freedman, a board member of the successful Cathedral Quarter Business Investment District in Belfast and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie.

Mr Magorrian emphasised the meeting was not about focusing on the problems of today in Downpatrick, but looking at the town’s strategic development and working on a vision for the future.

“Tonight is about looking to the future and if we had a business organisation, what would it look like and what would its aspirations be? How would it operate into the future and what powers would it have? If we are going to have a business voice in the town, and I think we all agree we are lacking this, it needs to carry credibility. 

“Whoever is sitting on any new body need to be the right people and know what they are talking about. There also needs to be a cross-section representation of all the businesses in this area and any new body must be sustainable. In the past when organisations have been created, they have done a few decent things, but have fallen away simply because they have not had revenue and no way to keep operating,” continued Mr Magorrian.

“If are going to go forward we need to think about sustainability, what are the obstacles we are going to face, the goals we want to achieve and how we actually get there?”

Mr Neill, who revealed he had a walk around the town ahead of last Tuesday night’s information evening getting underway, said he was amazed at the many assets Downpatrick has. He said an active business chamber in Ballymena was launched with a “loose gathering of people” and that when they started working together they began to create opportunities.

Mr Neill highlighted the importance of partnership working and how a small group of people working to build a town’s voice can achieve success and take other members of the business community with them.

“Establishing a voice for a business community is essential,” he continued. “My advice is do not attempt to solve every problem of the day. There may be many things which need to be done but start off with addressing two or three as they really could make the difference.”

Patricia Freedman outlined her work in the Cathedral Quarter and explained how bids for funding to develop the area were made, agreeing to lend her expertise to the Downpatrick business community.

Miss Ritchie highlighted the need for people in Downpatrick to say they are proud of where they live and have great confidence in an area which has something unique in terms of St Patrick and early Christian heritage.

“I would like to see everyone thinking together and how they see Downpatrick and this general Lecale area developing over the next five to 10 years, setting out a strategy to achieve that. Our success is in our past because of our heritage and it is how we galvanise that for the future,” she continued.

The MP added: “We need to focus on building Downpatrick’s retail capacity and creating a commercial hub. I believe success breeds success and it is important the town speaks with one voice about how it develops in terms of business and retail and what it wants to see happening. We also have a racecourse and heritage railway and there is so much we can do. Our vision is to develop Downpatrick to ensure it is a place where we want to do business, recreate and where we want to live. We have a product to sell and the best people to do that is ourselves.”