‘The Way It Is’ Area Profiles A Comprehensive Review of Community Development and Community Relationships in County Fermanagh December 98 AREA PROFILE OF BALLINAMALLARD (Including The Townland Communities Of Whitehill, Trory, Ballycassidy, Killadeas And Kilskeery). Description of the Area Ballinamallard is a small village, approximately five miles North of Enniskillen; it is located off the main A32, Enniskillen to Irvinestown road on the B46, Enniskillen to Dromore road. Due to its close proximity to Enniskillen, many of the residents work there and Ballinamallard is now almost a ‘dormitory’ village - house prices are relatively cheaper than Enniskillen, but it is still convenient to this major settlement. With Irvinestown, located four miles to its North, the village has been ‘squeezed’ by two economically stronger settlements. STATISTICAL SUMMARY: BALLINAMALLARD AREA (SUB-AREAS: WHITEHILL, TRORY, BALLYCASSIDY, KILLADEAS) POPULATION: Total 2439 Male 1260 (51.7%) Female 1179 (48.3%) POPULATION CHANGE 1971-1991: 1971 1991 GROWTH 2396 2439 1.8% HOUSEHOLDS: 794 OCCUPANCY DENSITY: 3.07 Persons per House. DEPRIVATION: OVERALL WARD: Not Deprived (367th in Northern Ireland) Fourth Most Prosperous in Fermanagh ENUMERATION DISTRICTS: NINE IN TOTAL Four Are Deprived One In The Worst 20% in Northern Ireland UNEMPLOYMENT (September 1998): MALES 35 FEMALES 18 OVERALL 53 RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION: CATHOLIC: 15.7% PROTESTANT: 68.2% OTHERS / NO RESPONSE: 16.1% Socio-Economic Background: The following paragraphs provide a review of the demographic, social and economic statistics relating to Ballinamallard village and the surrounding townland communities of Whitehill, Trory, Ballycassidy and Killadeas. According to the 1991 Census, 2439 persons resided in the Ballinamallard ward, comprising 1260 males and 1179 females; the population represents 4.5% of Fermanagh’s population and 0.15% of that of Northern Ireland. In 1971, the village of Ballinamallard had a population of 580 persons; by 1991, this figure had almost doubled to 1068, a rise of 84%. The majority of the residents are Protestant, with Church of Ireland members constituting just over 50% of the population. Ballinamallard village is predominantly Protestant while Catholics tend to live in the surrounding townland-areas. The following Table summarises the area’s religious break-down: 1 © PETER QUINN CONSULTANCY SERVICES Breakdown by Religious Affiliation Religion Number Percentage of Total Roman Catholic 382 15.7% Presbyterian 128 5.2% Church of Ireland 1227 50.3% Methodist 308 12.7% Others 395 16.1% TOTAL 2440* 100% * Totals do not always correspond from table to table as the Census Office employs ‘blurring’ techniques to preserve confidentiality in certain circumstances at ward level and below. As quantified in the Policy, Planning and Research Unit’s Report, Relative Deprivation in Northern Ireland, Robson et al 1994, Ballinamallard ward ranks 20th of the County’s 23 wards in terms of degree of deprivation. It is, therefore, less deprived than the average for the County and would, in fact, be regarded as relatively prosperous: Deprivation Level Of Ballinamallard Ward Rank Percentile Degree 367 65 Extent - - Intensity 227 40 Although the area is generally regarded as being ‘well-off’, there are nine Enumeration Districts (ED’s) within the Ballinamallard ward, four of which are categorised as being deprived; one ED in particular, shows signs of severe deprivation and it falls within the worst 20% in Northern Ireland. Agriculture was formerly the primary source of economic activity; the numbers involved in farming have declined and the area now hosts a smaller number of bigger farms. Fisher Engineering is now the area’s biggest employer, but the major category of employment is the security sector which employs a large number of residents who work elsewhere (mostly outside Fermanagh), but choose to live in Ballinamallard because it is perceived as ‘safe’. Ballinamallard Village The economic heart of the village has experienced decline; increasing car usage has resulted in residents purchasing goods and services in the larger settlements, which has had a detrimental effect on local businesses, many of which are owned by older people; there is a relatively small number of younger people setting up new businesses in the area and this lack of new business-starts may cause problems for the village’s economic prosperity in the future. For years, the village’s centre deteriorated, with vacant property creating eyesores; although much still needs to be done, the situation has improved as a result of funding being secured from IFI funds to renovate the village’s hotel and convert derelict property into shop units and flats. There are no banking nor financial services in the village; one bank had a part-time office, but this closed down and there are no plans to establish even an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM). Lack of a bank is not a pressing need within the village, but it does indicate, to residents, that local services have declined. The most pressing issue for the village is the problem of congestion, particularly around the Barragh Road/Main Street junction. Given the increase in traffic flows, this junction would need to be widened; a vacant property is available which would allow it to be widened but, as the DoE is already carrying out a road widening project on the Irvinestown road, this scheme has been postponed. 2 © PETER QUINN CONSULTANCY SERVICES The number of young people ‘hanging round the streets’ has prompted the local Methodist and Church of Ireland Ministers to try to address this problem; they have plans to establish a drop-in centre for teenagers with a youth worker to assist them. Although this is a church initiative, the centre (as yet no premises have been secured) will be a ‘neutral’ venue for all young people, and religion will not be an issue there. As with other areas, there is some evidence of anti-social behaviour, particularly under-age drinking; residents believe that it is important to address this issue ‘head on’. While there is a Development Association which has achieved much, most local community activity is centred around participation in church activities, of which there are a large number, e.g. Scouts, Boys Brigade (BB), Girls Friendly Society (GFS), Girls Brigade (GB), badminton, bowls, lunch club, Youth Fellowship, women’s groups and different bands. All of these have their own, well-defined boundaries, networking systems and training courses, making each different group ‘self-sufficient’, which means that there is little cross-contact with other groups in the area. These groups obtain money through fund-raising activities, the District Council and the Western Education and Library Board; generally, they do not receive any support from the intermediary funding agencies. Ballinamallard has a total of six halls in the village, two dedicated play-schools (one is in permanent accommodation, while the other is in a port-a-cabin) although they are to be amalgamated into one within the new enterprise centre, a primary and secondary school, purpose-built football club, hotel, restaurant and a variety of different businesses and services, including a computer company, fuel distributor and an engineering company (a significant local employer). Ballinamallard Community Development Association The Community Association was first established in 1972, but lapsed somewhat until it was revived in 1992. The primary aim of the Association is to act as a lobbying/pressure group for the postal district of Ballinamallard; particular areas of interest are improving the environment and the development of leisure and tourism amenities in the area. While the group serves the whole Ballinamallard area, its major focus is on the village where most of the ‘visible’ needs of the area are found; however, the group will lobby on behalf of any resident in the surrounding area who, they feel, has a good case. To date, the group has been successful in completing a number of different projects - development of the car park, a skip compound, a road widening scheme, and improved signage; it has also secured money for the Station Park Centre (the conversion of a derelict building into economic units) under the CPDS. It currently has plans for an environmental improvement scheme involving the whole village, but funders have placed the project ‘on hold’ pending additional funds. In order to ensure that the group is accessible to everyone, it meets in Fisher Engineering’s premises, rather than any of the local halls. The village is predominantly Protestant, but the committee has been successful in attracting some Catholic members; they recognise that much work still has to be done to develop a greater cross-community spirit in the area. In order to facilitate this, the Association holds Fun Days to raise awareness of the work which the group does and, this year for the first time, it invited residents of Coa (a predominantly Catholic townland two-and-a-half miles from the village) to participate in this event. Ballinamallard has developed networks with Kesh and Tempo: they are collaborating with Kesh on the development of music festivals which will be held during the summer. It is recognised that networking is a useful activity but group members find it difficult to spare time for additional activities. 3 © PETER QUINN CONSULTANCY SERVICES Ballinamallard Youth Club Located in the local secondary school, the youth club provides activities for young people from ten years onwards, including dance, drama and a wide variety of sporting facilities (including residential breaks). The club is run during the school year by a mixture of paid and voluntary assistants; it has become increasingly difficult to attract the latter type of help and it is hard to maintain volunteer enthusiasm. It can be hard to get parents to become involved in the club’s activities, as many regard it as an extension of a “.. child-minding ..” service. During the summer there is nothing organised for the young people; as a result, there had been a vandalism problem, but this has been reduced through police assistance and the club’s awareness campaign.