Lifford-Strabane communities must wait until next year for €14.9m development decision

Communities in Lifford and Strabane will have to wait until early next year to learn if a new application for funding the €14.9m cross-border-cross-community Riverine project has been successful.

The idea of such a development has had a chequered past with the slow pace of progress, or rather the lack of it, leading many to fear it would never happen.

Essentially the proposal is to develop a cross-border public park with provision for an outdoor public events space, community building and play experience, environmental features, shared walkways, river access and parking.

The park on the Lifford side will be a designed landscape incorporating indoor and outdoor recreational features. This will be complemented on the Strabane side with recreation and environmental education and conservation activities.

Spanning both sides of the River Foyle the shared space will be uniquely connected through the creation of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, as a symbolic link in connecting the communities of Strabane, Lifford and their wider hinterlands and representing a prominent physical symbol of a changing society.

The project also includes innovative activity programmes as an opportunity for sustained engagement in activities of common interest. This new community asset along with the activity programmes which will be delivered through it, will, according to the promoters - Donegal County Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council - facilitate cross-community and cross-border connections and encourage greater interaction, positively impacting on peace and prosperity.

The councils submitted the application for the Riverine Community Park Project was submitted to the PEACEPLUS Programme by the closing date on September 7. The overall cost of the project now stands at €14.9m, reflecting the increased construction, inflation and other costs.

The total budget available under fund making the cash available, Investment Area 1.4 Re-Imaging Communities, is €75m. It is envisaged this investment area will fund 10 transformative projects and a maximum award to any one project up to €15m.

Welcoming the news of the submission, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Martin Harley commended the work of all involved for this much-needed community facility.

“I would like to thank the communities and stakeholders who reaffirmed their commitment, as evidenced in the many letters of support for the funding application to the PEACEPLUS programme”.

He added this partnership between the councils provides a unique cross-border relationship that is innovative and progressive in addressing the cross-border challenges and opportunities through Riverine.

It is understood that following the assessment of all applications received a decision on the proposal would be relayed to the councils in early 2024.