Minister welcomes public realm progress

Work on Lisburn city centre’s £4.7m facelift is progressing well, according to Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland, who visited on Wednesday to see for himself.
David McCallum, Chairman, Lisburn City Centre Management, Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, Councillor Margaret Tollerton, Mayor of Lisburnand Aldreman Allan Ewart, Chairman, Economic Development Committee at Lisburn City  Council during a visit by Minister McCausland to view the ongoing public realm works in Lisburn City Centre.David McCallum, Chairman, Lisburn City Centre Management, Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, Councillor Margaret Tollerton, Mayor of Lisburnand Aldreman Allan Ewart, Chairman, Economic Development Committee at Lisburn City  Council during a visit by Minister McCausland to view the ongoing public realm works in Lisburn City Centre.
David McCallum, Chairman, Lisburn City Centre Management, Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, Councillor Margaret Tollerton, Mayor of Lisburnand Aldreman Allan Ewart, Chairman, Economic Development Committee at Lisburn City Council during a visit by Minister McCausland to view the ongoing public realm works in Lisburn City Centre.

The DUP minister, with party colleagues, including Mayor, Councillor Margaret Tolerton alongside, checked progress on paving works in Bow Street, Haslem’s Lane, and Market Square and on development of the lighting and water features within the new event space in the square.

The Public Realm works and an additional £330,000 Revitalisation Project (to enhance Lisburn as a shopping destination) are a collaboration between the DSD, Lisburn City Council, local traders and other stakeholders.

Work - aimed at securing and sustaining local investment by attracting businesses and customers alike, as well as restoring a sense of strong civic pride - is reportedly on course for completion by Spring 2015.

“My department,” said Mr McCausland, “has demonstrated a commitment to the development of many towns and cities throughout Northern Ireland and it is evident that the significant public realm and revitalisation work underway in Lisburn City Centre will be fundamental in assisting the economic generation of the city, helping to ensure it remains vital and viable for the future.”

Looking forward to seeing the completed works, he said, Mr McCausland thanked everyone involved for their hard work and wished them well in continuing to deliver what he called “this very important project for Lisburn”.

Lisburn City Council Economic Development Committee Chairman, Alderman Allan Ewart, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Minister to Lisburn City Centre to see the great progress already made on the public realm scheme.

“The value of this investment is significant in making an improvement to our City Centre which will deliver a more pedestrian-friendly area and more welcoming and attractive environment for visitors and businesses alike.

“Added to this is the support given by the Department through the Revitalisation project which has already delivered unique events and marketing initiatives which have attracted new and more visitors to Lisburn.

“As more of these activities are delivered and the high quality public realm scheme completes we hope businesses will be encouraged to invest and maximise this important opportunity that the Council has been able to create by working alongside the Minister and his team.”

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