Donegal County Council in partnership with Strabane District Council will be hosting a public meeting in the Fir Trees Hotel on Wednesday 29th September at 5.30pm on the Lifford/Strabane Regeneration Riverine Project. This meeting will include a presentation by Holywell Consultancy who recently carried out a study on behalf of both Councils to assess the impact of the conflict on this area and to identify opportunities for social, economic and physical regeneration which facilitates cross border and cross community reconciliation. This process involved engagement with key stakeholders and the wider community through focus groups, interviews, research analysis and an online survey and the findings from this research will be presented at this meeting.
There will also be a presentation from Donegal County Council on plans to transform the border Riverside area between Lifford and Strabane, through a programme of extensive enhancement and regeneration of the area. A key element of this work will be the establishment of a cross border and cross community based forum, made up of key stakeholders from this catchment area. Both Councils are keen to submit these plans for funding to the PEACE III Programme under priority 2.1 Shared Public Spaces later this year and an important element of this project will be support from all the key stakeholders in this area.
Micheál Ó hÉanaígh, Director of Services with Donegal County Council stated that it is important that as many groups as possible attend this meeting to hear first hand the findings from the study and to convey their views on the proposed development of the riverside. The communities involvement at all levels with this project will be fundamental if we are to secure funds to rejuvenate this area. Philip Faithful, CEO, Strabane District Council added that ‘this project would be instrumental in rejuvenating the area and would inspire cross-border, cross community co-operation similar to that of thirty years ago’.
Anyone who is interested in hearing more about the Riverine project is welcome to attend this meeting on the 29th September. Please could confirm your availability by contacting Breid Neely, Donegal County Council at 00353 74 9172573 or email bneely@donegalcoco.ie