Ballynahinch Regeneration Committee
Ballynahinch Regeneration Committee was formed at a public meeting in Ballynahinch
Resource Centre in March 1994. The meeting was under the auspices of the Down District
Council and the remit from the council was to try and regenerate Ballynahinch both
socially and economically.
By the end of 1995 the committee had completed a forgotten town analysis of
Ballynahinch both social and economic needs which met with approval from the public,
Council and other statutory bodies that we hoped to form partnership with. During
the latter part of 1966 we published a colour brochure setting out our objectives
for Ballynahinch. The three main objectives were to improve community life in our
town.
Number one was to purchase the Market House and town square and refurbish for public
use. The committee persuaded the Council to acquire The Square on a 75-year lease
and sub lease it to Ballynahinch Regeneration for 73 years. We in turn refurbished
and remodelled the square during 1998. From 1996 our attention was also focused on
the Market House and after five years of trying we eventually completed the purchase
of the Market House in February 2001. During this time our vision extended to the
properties alongside the Market House on The Square and these were also acquired in
2001.
The second objective was to improve the traffic flow through the town, which at peak
hour was virtually at gridlock, and the scheme we proposed was accepted about 7O% by
the D.O.E. Roads Service. The Committee worked very closely with D.O.E engineers and
the project was completed in the spring of 2000. While the scheme has its critics it
certainly speeded up through traffic. We are currently pursuing the construction of
the Ballynahinch by-pass, which is urgently needed.
Our third objective is the rear of The Square with an old terrace of houses and
gardens and we have started on this project now by purchasing properties.
On the community side from 1996 we formed the Ballynahinch, Drumaness and Spa
Community Resource Centre in conjunction with Drumaness and District Community
Association and the Spa Community Association, thereby taking in the mixed
community of Ballynahinch, the predominately Catholic community of Drumaness and the
predominately Protestant community of Spa. An office was opened at 54 Main Street
Ballynahinch and a management committee was appointed of three people from each
association.
This group is still working and each group maintains its independence, but when
needed we work as one. The committee is responsible for the running of the office
and meets on the first Monday of each month. An office administrator works Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday of each week and a line manager is available and appointed by
the management.
Irish and Scottish dance, song, music and pipers drawn from all sections of our
community. School links are currently being discussed by all the schools in our
area.
In June 2001 we had a visit of 76 French people including 50 singers, dancers
and musicians who provided a French spectacular of music, song and dance in the
Assumption Grammar School. A meal was provided after the show and a disco followed.
On the night we had a full house which we are delighted to say encompassed our whole
community from clergy onwards. We followed this with a joint Shamrock and Thistle
night on 15th March, 2002, which encompassed music song and Irish and Scottish
dancers.
Meetings have been facilitated by Ballynahinch Regeneration between Sinn Fein and
the Progressive Unionist Party with reference to parades that could have proven
contentious and our arrangements have been accepted by both the Police and the
Parades Commission.
We also have in place a series of telephone numbers to ring should any trouble
occur in our town.
In Ballynahinch we have also provided a River Walk which we are hoping to extend
shortly.
Another major project is taking place on the Windmill Hill which was the scene of
the 1798 Battle of Ballynahinch. The Battle of Ballynahinch is also excellently
illustrated in our town murals of which we are very proud. Over a number of years
murals depicting the different aspects of Ballynahinch both past and present have
been painted by groups as diverse as professional artists and children from our
primary schools. They are non-sectarian and indeed have brought people of different
political and religious beliefs together in the creating of these murals. Ballynahinch
Regeneration in partnership with the Down District Council, Woodland Trust and
Enterprise Ulster will provide a wildlife park, a Millennium Wood and possibly a
restored windmill to be walked and enjoyed by the people of Our town.
We feel our Market House project is very necessary to our role in Ballynahinch
to provide a public meeting place and exhibition space for schools, craft and
painting groups. Organisations as diverse as the Orange Order and Sinn Fein 1916
will get the opportunity to educate people about their aims and origins, to promote
a better understanding of our different traditions.
Our Committee is composed of people of various religious beliefs, while women would
make up about 5O%. Young people are also well represented.
Ballynahinch Regeneration is a well mixed committee with members from Northern
Ireland, Dublin, Scotland, Yorkshire and our most recent member is called Sohala
who is a young lady from Iran married to Brian, a young man from Holywood and living
in Ballynahinch.
As members we work to make our town a better place to live, work and play in for
all our people. We have our successes, our disappointments, a lot of enjoyment and
firm friendships.
Our new Market House Project is now up and running.
VINCENT FULLAM,
