Ballynure Village Plan Contents Acknowledgements 4 Abbreviations and Glossary 4 1.0 : Introduction 5 2.0 : Context 7 3.0 : Village Analysis 8 4.0 : Consultation 13 5.0 : Initiatives 14 6.0 : Action Plan 26 7.0 : Delivering the Village Plan 29 8.0 : Information Sources 30 9.0 : Appendix 1 - Village Meeting Publicity 32 Appendix 2 - Consultation Report 36 Ballynure Village Plan 3 Acknowledgements allynure & District Community Association, wish We would like to thank VMS Consults Ltd for chairing to express sincere gratitude to all those who and facilitating the village meeting and for consulting Bcontributed to the preparation of the Ballynure extensively throughout the village. We also appreciate Village Plan. the support from GROW South Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s officers and Elected The Association would also like to thank those members Members for their encouragement at the various who came along to an initial meeting to discuss how to consultation meetings and for their welcome input take forward the village renewal programme in Ballynure throughout the preparation of the Ballynure Village Plan. village. We are particularly grateful to the members of the community association and Friendship Club who We would like to extend a special word of thanks to all helped publicise the village meeting by distributing the residents who came to the village meeting and leaflets and putting up posters. A special word of actively participated in the various discussions. We also appreciation to those who arranged and provided appreciate the time and effort put in by community catering for the public meeting. groups, traders and youths who submitted detailed feedback when asked for information on the issues that We wish to extend our gratitude to Mrs Elaine Doherty, affect them; their contribution has been invaluable to Principal of Ballynure Primary School for use of the the consultation process. school facilities for the village meeting. We also appreciate Mrs Doherty’s willingness to carry out We wish to thank all those who permitted the use of caretaker duties on the night. In addition, the their photographs in the village plan especially Alan Paul Presbyterian Church has accommodated the use of the who provided several photographs of the village. Church Hall for several meetings. Abbreviations and Glossary DARD NIHE Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Ireland Housing Executive Government Department responsible for overall Rural Northern Ireland’s strategic housing authority Development Programme NINIS DRD Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service Department for Regional Development A Public Service providing statistical and locational Government department with responsibility for regional information relating to small areas across Northern strategic planning and development, transport strategy Ireland. Information is available across a range of and sustainable transport, public roads, public themes including Population, Social and Welfare data transport, air and sea ports, and water and sewerage and Agriculture and Education profiles services PCSP GROW South Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership Generating Rural Opportunities Within South Antrim Partnership group comprising local district councils, Body responsible for delivering funding from the councillors and representatives of the local community Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme responsible for monitoring the effectiveness of policing in an area MLA(s) Member(s) of the Legislative Assembly PSNI Representative elected by the voters of a constituency Police Service of Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly 4 Ballynure Village Plan Introduction : 1.0 1.1 Ballynure Ballynure from Baile-an-Iúir ‘The town of the Yew’ is an attractive village located 3 miles north east of Ballyclare and approximately 15 miles north of Belfast. Our village has a rich historical legacy with remains of several industrial mills, an old blacksmith’s forge and links to Jonathan Swift 1, William Orr 2, Samuel Houston 3, and it is the ancestral home of the Macomb family 4. Over time, the village has developed into a commuter settlement and with its strategic location along the busy A8 from Belfast to Larne, the village has become noticeably severed by the carriageway. The population of Ballynure village according to the 2001 Census was 677 people (Northern Ireland Nighbourhood Information Service, 2011). The population of Ballynure Ward was 2,884 in 2001 but was estimated to be approximately 3,169 in 2008 (NINIS, 2010). © Alan Paul 1 Jonathan Swift was Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin and author of Gulliver’s Travels 2 William Orr was a member of the United Irishmen who was executed in 1797 3 Samuel Houston was a former United States Senator for Texas and whom the city of Houston, Texas is named after 4 The Macomb family were prosperous American merchants and land speculators. Alexander Macomb was commanding general of the United States Army from May 29, 1828 to June 25, 1841 Ballynure Village Plan 5 1.0 : Introduction 1.2 Purpose of the Village Plan Since the formation of Ballynure & District Community Association a great deal has been achieved by members of this local community. We have been responsible for developing the Ballynure Memorial Park, and we organise annual events such as Easter egg hunts, the village clean up and the ‘Christmas Lights Switch On’. As a result of these activities we have encouraged the community to work together to achieve our common aims and to ensure that Ballynure is an even better place for all our residents. Preparing a Village Plan can help renew community spirit and give new purpose to the community association by helping to focus attention on what residents and traders © Alan Paul want and how it can be achieved. The process of preparing the Village Plan has already provided us with 1.3 Format of Village Plan this opportunity - extensive consultation has been carried out with the local community so that we have a The Village Plan comprises 9 Sections as follows: plan that is firmly grounded in local needs and aspirations. Section 1: Introduction – sets the scene; We can use the Village Plan to seek out additional Section 2: Context – details why we have produced a resources as it sets out the agreed needs and priorities Village Plan for Ballynure; of the entire community and not just those of a few individuals. We can also use our Village Plan to monitor Section 3: Village Analysis – provides an overview of progress as we begin to regenerate the village. the physical environment and social aspects of Ballynure; Section 4: Consultation – summarises the consultation process that has informed the Village Plan; Section 5: Initiatives – outlines the recommended initiatives to address the issues raised during the consultation process; Section 6: Action Plan – summarises the projects and priorities; Section 7: Delivering the Village Plan – outlines what we need to do to enable things to happen on the ground; Section 8: Information Sources – provides a collection of research documents referred to in the Village Plan; and Section 9: Appendices – provides background information that has been used to prepare the Village Plan. Ballynure Memorial Park © Alan Paul 6 Ballynure Village Plan Context : 2.0 2.1 Rural Development Programme In the smaller villages of Ballynure, Ballyrobert, Cogry/Kilbride, Parkgate and Templepatrick a Village 2007-2013 Renewal Facilitator was employed by Antrim and Within Northern Ireland, the Department of Agriculture Newtownabbey Borough Councils to engage with and Rural Development (DARD) is responsible for communities that had no established community group developing and co-ordinating rural development policy or limited capacity, to help them prepare a Village Plan and managing the implementation of rural development for their area. strategies and programmes. The direct involvement of the local community in the The Department’s vision for the Northern Ireland Rural preparation of the Village Plan is imperative. It is also Development Programme 2007-2013 provides a necessary that any actions that emerge reflect the programme that seeks to protect and enhance our rural needs of those that live and work in the area as the environment and contribute to the development of local community will ultimately be responsible for competitive and sustainable rural businesses, and delivering the plan. The purpose of the programme is thriving rural communities. not just to regenerate the physical environment but also to help promote social cohesion by bringing the Axis 3 of the programme “Improving the quality of life in community together, developing their skills, empowering rural areas and diversifying the rural economy” contains people and enabling them to do things for themselves. the following measures: • Diversification into non-agricultural activities; Phase 2: Implementation Approximately £1 million has been allocated by GROW • Business creation and development; towards the implementation of Village Renewal projects. • Encouragement of tourism activities; Villages can only apply for funding under Phase 2 if they • Basic services for the economy and rural population; have a village plan in place. • Village renewal and development; and For example, within the GROW South Antrim area, the • Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage. village of Crumlin already had a plan in place and was eligible to apply under Phase 2. GROW South Antrim granted £230,000 in funding