Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland has announced funding of £335,000 towards the cost of a public realm scheme in Strabane.

Making the announcement for Castle Place and Lower Main Street in the Centre of Strabane the Minister said: "I am pleased that my Department, working in partnership with the Department for Regional Development’s Road Service and Strabane District Council, has been able to secure the funding necessary to start work on this much needed public realm scheme that will help to transform part of the retail core of Strabane.

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"I am all too aware of the effect that the current economic downturn is having on town centres such as Strabane and I am keen that my Department plays its part in the revitalisation process. The award of funding to this project is a practical demonstration of the Department's ongoing commitment to the regeneration of Strabane and the implementation of the Strabane Town Centre Master Plan which was published some two years ago."

The Castle Place/Lower Main Street public realm scheme involves the installation of Kilkenny Limestone paving, the upgrading of the street lighting, some minor carriageway realignment and resurfacing along the entire length of Castle Place and Lower Main Street between Castle Street and John Wesley Street. DRD Roads Service will manage the implementation of the project.

Construction work on the scheme started on 17 October 2012 and is expected to take some 12 weeks to complete. The contractor will endeavour to ensure that traffic disruption is kept to a minimum during the works and they will maintain service and pedestrian access to shops and other businesses at all times.

(CD/IT)