Global:
We plan in the future to set up a twinning arrangement with less fortunate communities. We welcome suggestions and enquries.
Regional:
Culmore Area Forum established a cross border partnership on youth projects with Muff in Co. Donegal in 2005 and in the following years expanded these links with Muff Community Development Cooperative and the villages of Quigleys Point and Redcastle along the River Foyle. During 2007 the leaders of the community organisations worked collaboratively to write up a funding application which was secured through Border Action. First Western Consultants from Sligo were employed to carry out consultations with each of our communities to determine needs in our geographical area. The Consultants' report was published and copies have been sent to public agencies. (Copy available on this website at 'Bulletin Board' Downloads - 2008-9 Foyle West Audit) Now the community leaders are getting down to the work of carrying out the report recommendations.
Local:
Community Facilities - Our Forum, representing all of the community groups working in the village area, worked together and drew up a proposal for a neutral physical community resource centre which included architect's drawings. This was submitted to Derry City Council in 2005. The proposal described in detail the shared neutral community hub facility including socio-economic business units and training facilities proposed for the Council owned land at Ballynagard by all of the groups working in Culmore. WE ARE STILL AWAITING COUNCIL'S REPLY!!
Culmore URGENTLY needs services and facilities. We have experienced significant growth in our population and particularly since the army checkpoint was dismantled (five fold within the last 2 decades), youth marginalisation, anti-social behaviour, with no community infrastructure being provided to meet the needs of our population (now reported as having reached approximately five thousand). Our village has a main cross border arterial route dividing it with only one pedestrian crossing for a number of housing developments and schools. We have an inadequate public transport service and a lack of bus shelters. We have one small grocery shop, a pharmacy, an off-licence, 2 licensed premises, 2 food take-aways, 2 primary schools (Hollybush, a Catholic school and Culmore School, a state/Protestant school), an all girl grammar school (Thornhill, Catholic) and a Masonic Lodge Hall. The 5 acre City Council field at Ballynagard lies idle as does the vacated old Thornhill College property owned by the Derry Diocese (Catholic Church), the Ardanlee Nursing Home (private developer) and individual vacant dwellings which are being vandalised and used as 'meeting places' by youth. Meanwhile City Council lease a field for community use. (Logic?) Our village area contributes approximately £2.5 million annually in rates. Our proposal for the 5 acre City Council field at Ballynagard is 3 years with Council and we were told on 15 June 2008 that a Council audit of land in its possession was carried out and that Council had decided that the Ballynagard field was surplus to its requirements. Council has published a Development Brief and received submissions from developers in October 2008. Culmore Area Forum representatives were not invited to take part, even in an observer role, in the preparatory or decision-making work! We are now waiting to hear on the who, what and when!!
Signage: The village is the only village without signage in the Derry City Council area. We are lobbying for signage and there seems to be movement with Roads Service stepping up to provide - by mid April 2009.
Public Transport: A public transport survey was carried out by the University of Ulster Science Shop in 2007. The survey highlights deficiencies in the current public transport service. We are lobbying for a modern public transport service that meets the needs of all of our population and which ties in with EU environmental targets.
Safe to School: We are lobbying for 20mph speed limit outside Culmore School, a car parking area and a traffic island/pelican crossing at the entrance on the main Culmore Road at the entrance to Templeard
Volunteers: We have 10 volunteers qualified, 6 participating in relevant training programmes and plan to recruit additional volunteers. We will be organising additional training after Easter in April 2009.
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