Minister pressed to aid Ballyhornan upgrade

Minister pressed to aid Ballyhornan upgrade

5 December 2012

THE investment required from the Department for Regional Development to assist with the regeneration of the Ballyhornan area was discussed at Stormont last week.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie spearheaded a delegation which met with the minister in charge of the government department, Danny Kennedy.

Joining the MP were Down Council chief executive John Dumigan, local authority officials Margaret Quinn and Liam McLernon and Mrs. Patricia Quinn, chairwoman of the Ballyhornan Taskforce.

Earlier this year, wide-ranging development plans were unveiled for the Ballyhornan area. At their core is a major upgrade of the crumbling roads and sewerage infrastructure, with community officials and residents hoping the Stormont Executive will make the much-needed cash available to finance the work.

A number of government departments are reluctant to take responsibility for existing roads and sewers at the former of Ministry of Defence base in the village until they are substantially improved.

The development plan argues strongly that Ballyhornan needs to be treated as a “special case” with the various departments moving outside existing legislation to allow them to take responsibility for the much-needed upgrades.

Following last week’s meeting with Mr. Kennedy, Miss Ritchie said discussions focused in detail on the investment required from the Department of Regional Development to ensure a “concise development and regeneration plan for Ballyhornan.”

She said the Minister was presented with the development plan report for the village which has recently been completed by consultants appointed by Down Council.

“The report details the Infrastructural improvements that are required to bring public services in Ballyhornan up to an acceptable standard,” the MP continued.

“It’s vital that we have buy in from all of the government departments if we are to seriously tackle the regeneration needs of Ballyhornan.”

Miss Ritchie said that to date, support has been secured from Social Development Minister Alex Attwood for a so-called cross departmental approach to the development of Ballyhornan.

The MP added: “Minister Attwood has undertaken to pursue cross departmental support from his Executive colleagues and we await Minister Kennedy’s response following the assessment of the Ballyhornan development plan by his officials.”