PEOPLE in Ballykinler and Tyrella are being asked to play a key role in drawing up a new development plan for the area.
They are to be given a unique opportunity to meet with consultants to help shape the future of the area to make it a better place in which to live and work.
Finance has been secured to fund the initiative via the Down Rural Area Partnership and Housing Executive who will appoint consultants to assist local people in in preparing an “integrated development plan for the area.”
Mr. David Corbett, chairman of the Ballykinlar and Tyrella Community Association, said the organisation has been working for some time with the Down Rural Area Partnership to secure funding to enable it to employ a consultant to assist with the preparation of a development plan.
“We selected Newry firm Mentor Economic Developments Ltd. to help us because of its track record and experience in development planning,” he continued.
“Mentor use a very innovative community consultation tool called “planning for real” which involves building a large three dimensional model of the area. But we will say more about this part of the process at a later date.”
Mr. Corbett said the consultation process will start with a household survey which is the first step towards the formulation of the new plan.
Mr. Frank Dolaghan, managing director of Mentor Economic Developments Ltd., explained the “planning for real” process would be supported by the household survey.
He is encouraging people in households in the Ballykinler and Tyrella area to make sure they complete and return the survey form they will receive.
Mr. Dolaghan said volunteers from the community association will be calling with as many households as they can over the next two weeks, with survey forms also available for collection at the Vivo filling station in Ballykinler.
He added: “The chances of securing funding for the area are greater if it can demonstrate the support of the local people and so the survey is particularly important.”
Mr. Dolaghan said the so-called planning for real event for the area will take place early in the New Year.