FIVE government departments are being asked to join forces to help deliver ambitious regeneration proposals for the Ballyhornan area.
Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood wants his department to form a working group alongside the Departments for Social Development, Regional Development, Enterprise Trade and Investment and the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers.
Mr. Attwood wants to meet senior officials from the five departments to identify how to take forward an integrated development plan devised by the Ballyhornan and District Community Association and Down Council.
The plan includes an upgrade of the area’s crumbling roads and sewerage infrastructure but requires much-needed cash to deliver it.
Local people have been hoping that a range of government departments would agree to finance various aspects of the village plan as part of a phased approach to regenerating the Ballyhornan area.
The plan to form a working group involving a range of Stormont departments has been welcomed by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie.
“The Ballyhornan village development plan provides a number of suggestions on the way forward, including the need for a high level meeting with all local government departments to achieve cross departmental ‘buy-in’ and agree an action plan for investment,” explained the MP.
Miss Ritchie said she hopes Mr. Attwood’s support will be replicated by the other government departments.
The MP added: “I hosted a visit of Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy to Ballyhornan last year and he also gave his backing to the formation of a departmental working group as the way forward.
“I look forward to hearing a positive response from the departments contacted by Minister Attwood and the formation of this high level working group to act as the driver for development and investment in the Ballyhornan area.”