£2m spruce up is underway in town

£2m spruce up is underway in town

10 July 2013

WORK has started on a £2m town centre regeneration scheme in Ballynahinch.

The market town is the third in the district to benefit from a multi-million pound environmental improvement initiative. Similar schemes have already been completed in Newcastle and Downpatrick.

News that work is underway in Ballynahinch has been confirmed by Stormont Minister Nelson McCausland whose Department for Social Development is providing almost £1.7m towards the cost of the scheme.

Down Council is also contributing towards the cost of a raft of improvements designed to rejuvenate the town centre in a bid to attract new retail investment and attract more shoppers.

Aspects of the public realm scheme include new paving, street lighting, planters, seating, signs and upgrading a number of crossing points for pedestrians. Telephone lines and power cables will be buried underground.

There will also be improved disabled access to footpaths across the town with the area included in the scheme stretching from the Church Road/Dromore Street roundabout, to High Street, Main Street, Harmony Way and Windmill Street.

The entrance to the Windmill Street car park is to be substantially upgraded and business owners hope shoppers will be encouraged to make more more use of this.

Mr. McCausland said

the scheme, which is being undertaken by TAL contractors, will help deliver improvements which will “inject vibrancy” into the heart of Ballynahinch town centre.

He added: “With the current economic downturn this work will also provide much-needed employment for the local construction industry. When completed, the scheme has the potential to act as a catalyst to reinvigorate the town and improve trading conditions.”

Strangford MP, Jim Shannon, said the work is excellent news as the chamber of trade and local people needed help to regenerate the town.

“Some buildings are lying vacant and a better layout for the town is really needed,” he said. “The Minister has stepped up to the mark and a £1.7m regeneration plan has been agreed with Down Council bringing the amount up to £2m and soon the town will be the better for it.”

Down Council chairwoman, Maria McCarthy, is delighted work on the £2m regeneration scheme is underway.

“The completed scheme will greatly enhance the appearance of our market town and contribute to economic growth. I hope the confidence shown by the Department for Social Development and Down Council in Ballynahinch will encourage further business investment in the town,” she said.

Councillor McCarthy said the Housing Executive is also making a financial contribution to the cost of the public realm scheme and is looking forward to seeing the completed project.