BACKGROUND
The Lough Neagh Strategic Fund owes its origins to the success of the original Loughshores Area Based Strategy funded under the 1994 -1999 Rural Development Programme, which focused on the western and southern shores of the Lough. The initiative also has its origins in the Lough Neagh Management Strategy, a document produced by the Lough Neagh Advisory Committee and Co-ordinating Committee which considers and offers advice to issues facing the Lough.
THE LOUGH NEAGH PARTNERSHIP
The Lough Neagh Partnership comprises representation from local authorities, statutory and community organisations, as well as stakeholders with a particular interest in the Lough. The Partnership considered and developed specific actions from the Management Strategy in anticipation of attracting strategic funding for the Lough. In 2003 the Partnership received a funding package of £3.2m under the Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity (BSP) for a major regeneration initiative for the entire Lough Neagh area.
The Partnership has now allocated all of its funding to projects around the Lough and is now focussing on the promotion and marketing of these projects and the whole of the Lough Neagh wetlands area.
To view details of the funded projects 2003 - 2008 click here.
THE FUTURE FOR LOUGH NEAGH PARTNERSHIP
The Partnership has been cementing its ties with the statutory sector and local government to become more involved in the long-term management and development of the Lough Neagh area, tapping into new sources of funding and developing a long term strategy. In particular it intends to develop a co operation project for the Lough, as part of the new Rural Development programme.
After a long consultation period the Partnership has drawn up an extensive new sustainable development strategy for the Lough and has highlighted a number of new priorities.
Areas the Partnership wishes to focus on in the future include:
- The provision of a warden and dredging services on the Lough
- The improvement of navigation markers and safety facilities on the Lough
- The development of a major heritage programme
- The continued protection of the Lough's environment
- The marketing & promotion of the Lough
The Partnership will continue to ensure that the interests of the people, visitors and environment are at the forefront of the decision making process.
You can see that the investment in the Lough has been very successful in creating tangible impacts and real benefits to people.
There is still plenty of work to do and the Lough Neagh Partnership intends to continue striving to achieve its vision of:
“Managing, conserving and enhancing the Lough Neagh Wetlands environment whilst developing economic and social opportunities for local people and visitors.”
If you wish to contact the Lough Neagh Partnership, want to talk about a project or wish to discuss the sustainable development and future of the Lough Neagh Wetlands, please contact Gerry tel: 028 7941 7941.