Tourism high on agenda in meeting of Slieve Croob DEA body

Tourism high on agenda in meeting of Slieve Croob DEA body

2 March 2016

THE need to better capitalise on the natural beauty of Castlewellan Forest Park, Dundrum Bay and Seaforde is expected to be one of the key areas of focus for the new Slieve Croob District Electoral Area.

This is one of many areas for improvement that have been identified by the fledgling DEA, which hosted its first public meeting in Annsborough Community Hall on Thursday to explain its purpose.

Eight representatives from the area, which incorporates Castlewellan, Dundrum, Drumaness and surrounding villages, are being sought to represent a wide range of local interests including health, safety and well-being, youth, sport and regeneration.

Explaining that “community empowerment and planning” would be at the heart of the group, Slieve Croob DEA co-ordinator Priscilla McAlinden said some issues had already arisen in preliminary discussions including the need to capitalise on Castlewellan Forest Park, Dundrum Bay and Seaforde, the regeneration of the local community, the need to build relationships particularly with the introduction of Leitrim to the area, road safety, the improvement of access to health services and opportunities for young people to connect with each other.

More specifically, she said the need for better traffic calming at Ballylough Road, Christmas lights switch-on and new play facilities had also been mentioned.

She said representatives for the new DEA would be elected according to the range of interests they represent. She recommended that different groups collaborate and nominate one candidate to maximise the chance of being selected.

She said local involvement would be crucial to the DEA’s success, which would require the community to work together to improve lives.

“This is about the greater good of the area, not about individual needs. We will develop an action plan for Slieve Croob and this is your chance to be involved,” she said.

“We need to know what your issues are, it is your forum, your voice and your choice.

“Health, education, employment, safety and environment — we want to identify issues that matter to local people and keep everyone informed of the whole process.

“For the first time, we are engaging with the local community. The forum will provide a real opportunity for local people to influence the community plan, which will address health and wellbeing, economic development, tourism, community safety and good relationships.”

Addressing Thursday’s audience, local councillor Stephen Burns said that while community planning was not a new concept, it was new to this area.

He said it would allow the community to become decision makers in how  and where funding is spent.

Development Officer for NICVA, Jenny McAneaney, said the new community plan would be a “living document” that would evolve as it established a vision for the future.

“I can’t encourage you strongly enough to take this opportunity,” she said.

The Slieve Croob DEA will host three public meetings per year.