Community to have their say on Castlederg Diamond regeneration

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Environment and Regeneration Committee have approved plans to embark on a stakeholder and community consultation for the Diamond Regeneration element of the Derg Active Project in Castlederg.

Back in October 2021, Derry City and Strabane District Council secured £5,823,090 from the UK Levelling Up Fund to deliver the Derg Active Project.  The funding was part of an overall £15.5m funding pot secured by the Council from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to deliver on three strategic projects across the Council. A core element of the Derg Active Project is to deliver a high-quality public realm at the Diamond in the centre of the Village.

Since securing the funding Council has been progressing with the project and has appointed GM Design to oversee the design and project management of the Derg Active Green Infrastructure elements, which included the Diamond.

Local Elected Members were invited to attend monthly Steering Groups Meetings and also two design workshops were held to help shape the emerging designs for this space.  Among the consultees are the Department for Infrastructure who are an active participant on the steering groups and workshops and engagement has also taken place with the British Legion with regard to the War Memorial.

In an effort to consult with other stakeholders and the wider community, Council is planning on hosting a community engagement event as follows at the Dergview Leisure Centre on Thursday 23 February 2023, from 11:00am – 2:00pm and from 4:00pm – 8:00pm and on Saturday 25 February 2023, from 10:00am – 2:00pm.

In addition to this, the project management team will further engagement with the traders in the town centre while officers will continue to engage with DfI, The British Legion, Translink, the utility companies and other organisations and individuals potentially impacted by the proposed Public Realm Works.

Encouraging the local community to get involved in the community engagement, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Sandra Duffy said that the Derg Active project is a significant investment for Castlederg and input from the local community, businesses and stakeholders is vital to ensure it delivers benefits for all.

In addition to monies for the Derg Active project, Derry City and Strabane District Council secured significant funding through the Government’s Levelling Up Funding for St Columbs Park Acorn Farm; and the Daisyfield Community Sports Hub.