Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today gave the go ahead for a £4million scheme to extend the Ballymote Centre in Downpatrick.

The new scheme will provide much needed additional retail and community facilities and will include a separate multi use sports hall, with specific provision for young people, at an overall cost of almost £4million.

The Department for Social Development are providing £1.6million of neighbourhood renewal funding towards the overall cost of the project.

The Minister said: “Since its opening, the Ballymote Centre has gone from strength to strength and has become the community hub for the Flying Horse area. The need for this project was initially identified in 2003 under the Neighbourhood Action Plan drawn up by the Flying Horse Estates Area Neighbourhood Committee.

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"However, because of the costs involved and the requirements of the various funders it has taken a long time to develop suitable proposals. I am now in a position to give approval for this much needed project.”

The Minister commended the efforts of the various community representatives who lobbied for the scheme over the years. She said: "The Ballymote project will bring renewed confidence to the area providing much needed community and sports facilities which will improve the health and social well being of the residents of the Neighbourhood Renewal Area. It will also provide employment opportunities for those living in the area.”

The Minister also paid tribute to the other organisations that have provided funding for the scheme. She said: “This is a massive project which would not have been able to proceed without major commitments from a number of other organisations.

“In the current financial year my Department has approved projects worth almost £675,000 for the Downpatrick Neighbourhood Renewal Area and with matched funding from statutory bodies this brings the overall total to over £1million. This is a clear indication of my determination to tackle inequalities and improve the lifetime opportunities of those living in deprived communities,” the Minister added.

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