Funding secured to staff border hub network

Additional funding of almost €600,000 has been allocated to develop a network of community hubs in three local border towns.

The financial boost follows on from €8,412,327 granted to Belturbet in Cavan, Clones in Monaghan and Newtownbutler in Fermanagh under PEACEPLUS last month, to help fund an initiative titled Rural Economic and Social Transformation And Resilience Together (RESTART).

The latest allocation is intended to provide for staff and management of the hubs.

Led by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and supported by their southern counterparts, the initiative is intended to improve the quality of life of people living and working in these cross-border towns.

The funding in the respective areas will also be utilised to address a common issue shared between the three - the sight of dereliction.

In Belturbet the new Community, Enterprise and Tourism Hub will be located at the former Dinkin's Bakery Building on Main Street, with plans to demolish rear extensions, carry out refurbishment and upgrade works to the original two storey structure, and build a new two-storey extension, all to provide community, youth, enterprise multi-purpose spaces and ancillary facilities.

In Newtownbutler, the vision is to transform the site of the former PSNI station, a once divisive fortified barracks, which in recent years has been handed back to the community who have set about using the property for community gardens.

The plan now is to establish a community and business hub on the site; while in Clones there is ambition to create much the same at the former stables building located behind the already well-established Canal Stores.

Belturbet Independent Councillor Brendan Fay says the plan for the three communities is to “build for the long term not the short term”.

From each of the sites, the plan is to help each of the communities embed a social enterprise model to support community and volunteer-led groups in taking on an ownership and responsibility for their area.

Programmes will be run with both the Men's and Hen's shed, while a Healthy Homes Initiative will also be rolled out in the hope of improving eating habits and other lifestyle factors, in particular among those who potentially live in food or fuel poverty.

There are also plans to implement a programme of activities and events that explore the rich heritage of the region through visits and talks at key sites of significance.

This too will involve an element of intergenerational sharing and a strong purpose of cross community and cross border participation, as well as a focus on sports and fitness, led by the Peace Link in Clones, and on migrant integration.

More than €46 million was awarded by PEACEPLUS, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), to seven border-based rural regeneration projects, including RESTART.

Of the €8M plus received, €2M will go towards developing the Belturbet site, with €3M each for the others two.

Another local town to benefit is Lisnaskea, which got €5,722,677 to implement 'Rebuilding Together', a healthy communities project that aims to provide facilities and services currently lacking.

Other projects support social enterprise, green infrastructure and social farming.

The additional €600,000 by RESTART will staff the hubs in Belturbet, Clones and Newtownbutler for the next three years, as well as provide office supplies.

“The wonderful thing about this project, about the funding we've received, is that its not just being built and left there hoping for the community to take it over,” says Cllr Fay. “We're now going to have people running them. There will be one staff based in Newtownbutler all the time, and one other will float between the two other locations.”

Cllr Fay says the importance of this development will be felt, not just in years to come, but in terms of generations.

He highlighted too, in Beturbet specifically, work taking place between Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland to enhance connectivity via the Erne between it and Ballyconnell and Ballinamore; as well as major investment earmarked for Morrissey Park, with a €140,000 playground revamp on the cards and the addition of a 3-on-3 basketball court, skate park and other outdoor amenities.

There are also plans to upgrade the local jetty and marina for river visitors, and a €40,000 relativisation of the historic Turbet Island that will see new fencing and pathways put in place.

“There is a lot happening,” explains Cllr Fay, who welcomed the recent setting up of a town team by an engaged group of locals, and supported by Cavan County Council.

“Belturbet, like a lot of towns, has had to have a look at itself and decide the direction it wants to take. We have a brilliant community here, and that extends beyond the area itself to neighbouring towns as well, our neighbours. We're stronger when we all work together.”