The Department for Social Development (DSD) Minister Margaret Ritchie, yesterday launched a new publication to help urban centres in Northern Ireland develop regeneration.

The DSD guide entitled 'Vital and Viable' contains practical and helpful advice on the different approaches that can be adopted.

Speaking in Portadown yesterday, the Minister said: "This is the perfect town in which to launch this self-help publication on how to transform a run-down or neglected town centre. Portadown is already well along the road to regeneration in partnership with government and the private sector.

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"Indeed, the 'Working together, Portadown 2000' strategy published by Craigavon Borough Council and DSD is an excellent example of the way forward. Portadown has already demonstrated what can be achieved in transforming a town into a vital and viable place in which to work, shop and live. Government, in its different forms, and the private sector are coming together for the greater good.

"This new guide sets out our suggested approaches to the re-invigoration of cities and towns with the aim of encouraging greater investment and making them a more attractive place to live, work and visit.

"It is very appropriate that it should be launched in Portadown, a town which recognises its potential to grow and is developing a number of exciting proposals to allow this to happen."

During the visit to Portadown, the Minister also visited the Mayfair Business Centre where she met the Chairman, Councillor Kenneth Twyble and the Vice Chairman Breandan Mac Cionnaith and members of the North West Portadown Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership.

(LC/SP)