Launch of Causeway Coast and Glens Community Plan
Fri, June 16, 2017
The first Community Plan for the Causeway Coast and Glens has been officially launched – marking an important milestone in the ongoing development of the region.
‘A Better Future Together – A Community Plan for Causeway Coast and Glens 2017-30’ was unveiled at an event at the Causeway Hotel.
Community Planning is one of the new responsibilities of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and its statutory partners, representing the whole range of public services available across the area including health, education, public safety, housing, our communities, the environment and the economy.
Keen to provide an opportunity for all citizens to ‘Have a Say’ in planning for the future, the Causeway Coast and Glens Community Planning Strategic Partnership has been actively engaging with a wide range of communities, groups and individual citizens over recent months. The process helped to develop a long term vision and plan for the Causeway Coast and Glens area and all its citizens which sets out aspirations for a Healthy Safe Community, a Sustainable Accessible Environment and a Thriving Economy.
The outgoing Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Partnership, Councillor George Duddy said: “Our plan focuses on achieving real outcomes for all who live, work and visit the Causeway Coast and Glens, and sets out a framework around which to achieve them. Responses received on our draft Plan through an extensive public consultation process have been very encouraging and these have been shared with all our Community Planning partners.”
Welcoming the plan, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird, OBE, said: “The extent of collaboration across a whole range of public service organisations, private sector and community groups and individual citizens involved in the making of this plan is clear to see. It is with this type of partnership working in mind that we can all look forward to ‘A Better Future Together’.”
Speaking at the launch event, Head of Community Planning for the Department for Communities, Nichola Creagh added: “The Department is supporting the development of Community Plans with the focus on local people. These partnerships will identify long-term priorities and implement a shared plan for promoting the area, improving community cohesion and the quality of life for all citizens.”
During the event, a short video featuring the Causeway Coast and Glens Community Plan was aired. Many thanks to the Media Production students from the Ulster University’s Coleraine Campus who produced and edited the video.
Members of the Compass Advocacy Network Plus, Easy Read Committee, who produced an Easy Read version of the Community Plan, were represented at the launch. Both of these alternative formats of the Community Plan are available on Council’s website.
Closing the event, the new Chair of the Community Planning Strategic Partnership Alderman William King said: “We are satisfied that this comprehensive framework reflects the primary issues of individuals and communities across the area. It is our priority now to proceed with developing and delivering the actions identified in the plan, and help realise our ambitions to provide a high quality of life and well-being to all who live, work, do business in and visit Causeway Coast and Glens”.
Over the summer months, Council’s Community Planning Team in partnership with Community Planning Partner, Libraries NI will be holding Community Planning Roadshows open to the public. Staff will be available at local branch libraries across the Causeway Coast and Glens to talk about the new Community Plan and how it can meet your local service needs.
For full details of these roadshows go to www.causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/council/community-planning
