Stoneyford residents join forces with University of Ulster to develop village

A SERIES of public meetings and consultations have taken place between the University of Ulster and Stoneyford residents as part of a unique project to help develop the village.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Nov 2010, 11:28 BST
Updated 25th Nov 2010, 12:08 BST

The University has joined forces with the Stoneyford Community Association and residents to help the Community Association develop a vision for the village and create a Stoneyford that is vibrant, healthy, prosperous, safe, sustainable, and which provides for the needs of all the residents.

Urban Planning students from the University of Ulster made their initial fact-finding visit to the village in September and met with members of the Community Association, local people and the Statutory Agencies such as Lisburn City Council, the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust, the South Eastern South Eastern Education & Library Board, the PSNI and Alderman Cecil Calvert.

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Environment Minister Edwin Poots was also present for the first of a series of visits to the village, to give his support to the Community and the University as they seek to perform a series of consultations and surveys with the people in the village and the surrounding areas.

A public meeting was held on November 17 as part of the initiative, and everyone in the Stoneyford area is welcome to attend the next meeting on Wednesday December 15, when the team will be presenting their draft Community Plans.

The Community Association will then begin discussions with the residents, statutory agencies and Lisburn Council to agree a finalised plan for the village.

Chairman of the Stoneyford Community Association, Gerard Magennis, said: "The involvement of the University of Ulster has given us the ability to be proactive in how we develop our village and redress the stream of bad news stories about our village. Now we have the chance to have a say in how we want to see our village developed for everyone."

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Dr Gavin Rafferty from the School of the Built Environment at the University of Ulster added: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to have a real-life opportunity to engage with the community, to effect change and be involved in a process that should deliver tangible changes for such a beautiful area."

Related topics:Edwin Poots