Villages vye for renewal funds

At their meeting last week, members of Council’s Community Planning and Wellbeing Committee agreed in principle to provide 25% match funding under the programme to Ahoghill (£6,125) and Gracehill (£7,750) should their RDP applications be successful.

They heard from Aidan Donnelly, Co-Director of Development, Leisure and Cultural Services that 75% funding to a maximum of £25,000 was available from the RDP programme which was in its final call for applications with a cut off date of June 21.

He also pointed out that Portglenone, Kells & Connor, Glenravel and Cullybackey were successful under the first round of funding and had received 25% of match funding from Council.

In this round, he said, Ahoghill Traders Association were seeking funding to enhance vacant properties around the village and Gracehill Old School Trust was seeking cash to undertake repairs and reinstate facilities at the village square.

A third village, Broughshane, had identified improvements at the Riverside walk as their proposed renewal project. However, Mr Donnelly pointed out that as the walk is in Council ownership, Council were required to make the application to RDP for funding towards the total cost of £33,325.

This was approved by the Committee who also agreed that the required £8,332 match funding would be budgeted by Council through the rates estimates.

Mr Donnelly said the funding process was a competitive one and that it was most likely that just one of the three bids would be successful.

Support for all three was voiced by both Cllrs. Roy Gillespie and Paul Frew.

Mr Frew said: “They are all very worthy but in the event that only one is successful I would request that the other two be placed on the capital projects rolling spend list. At least that way there is some hope council will consider them in the future.”