Business Village will be judged on results

12.00.00am GMT Mon 27th Feb 2006

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has said the North Down Business Village is an outstanding concept, but will be judged on results.

Cllr Parsley stated: "The Business Village concept is an excellent one, promoted by politicians of all parties and by local business and academia. It promises to provide something Northern Ireland too often lacks - a clear link between all the relevant sectors to create an environment in which businesses can genuinely prosper.

"However, businesspeople in North Down have seen much promise in such projects before, yet the results have fallen short of expectations. In particular, public-funded agencies such as Invest NI must fulfil their end of the bargain.

"The Business Village could put North Down at the forefront of economic development in Northern Ireland, and the Council has worked hard to achieve this. But it is the position 12 months down the line which will illustrate its success or otherwise. We cannot afford to keep missing our potential."