Relief at Extension of Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 7th Apr 2006

Alliance representatives in North Down have expressed relief that programmes of neighbourhood renewal will proceed in disadvantaged areas, after a threat to funding was lifted.

Responding to a Government announcement that 15 areas, including Bangor, Newtownards, Glengormley and Carrickfergus, would benefit from the neighbourhood renewal scheme, North Down MLA and Alliance Social Development Assembly Spokesperson Eileen Bell stated: "The threat the neighbourhood renewal schemes would be closed down was focusing the mind of many people in the past few weeks. There was a real risk that work started would not be completed. The announcement that many thousands of people stand to benefit from the continuance of the scheme is a relief."

Party Spokesperson, North Down Deputy Mayor Tony Hill, stated: "Too often areas such as Bangor are dismissed as 'Gold Coast', and areas of genuine disadvantage or overlooked for the resources they require. Any steps that address this disadvantage and offer a clearly defined way forward are to be warmly welcomed."

Young Alliance Chair and fellow North Down Councillor Ian James Parsley added: "I have been genuinely impressed by the outstanding work carried out by those in the voluntary sector on neighbourhood renewal in North Down, which is an example to others in the sector about how to generate real outcomes that make a difference. Anything which makes people's lives easier and which deals effectively with problems in disadvantaged area is a significant step forward."

ENDS