Over £576,000 of government funding has been released to improve public amenities in Craigavon, just days after planning began on the town's regeneration master plan.

Announcing a range of environmental improvement schemes for the Brownlow area, Minister Margaret Ritchie reaffirmed the importance of developing neighbourhoods.

"The provision of environmental enhancements is an important aspect of the Neighbourhood Renewal strategy which recognises the benefits of physical improvements as a means of developing a sense of community identity and pride and helping to create safer more attractive neighbourhoods where residents will want to live," she said.

Works will include the erection of improved signage throughout the area; the construction of estate entrance features; and the provision of additional car parking spaces to meet modern day demands.

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As well as the upgrading of the footways in the area and; and the cleaning up of the linear park to include the installation of three site specific permanent artworks along the linear stream.

Funded mostly by the Department for Social Development, additional contributions of over £100,000 will be made by Arts Council for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Craigavon Borough Council and Roads Service.

The work will complement projects already funded through Neighbourhood Renewal in Brownlow. These include a multi-use games area opened in the summer at Ardowen and Parkmore and the extension to the Bluestone Business Park, recently approved at a cost of just under £900,000.

Minister Ritchie said: "One of the key factors in successfully tackling deprivation and assisting regeneration is through a partnership approach involving the public, private and community sectors.

"I recognise the important role which community representatives have to play as an equal partner in this process and I am committed to ensuring that local people have the capacity to contribute to the decision making process."

(PR/JM)