A scheme to refurbish a courtyard area and car park at Pomeroy Forest has secured over £90,000 in funding from a Stormont rural development programme, it has been confirmed.
At a meeting of Mid Ulster District Council’s policy and resources committee held on Thursday, July 1, members were made aware an award of funding of £93,750 has been secured as part of the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Rural Development Programme.
Councillors were also advised the funding is required to be matched by 25 per cent to allow it to be utilised. This will require Council to contribute £31,250 to the project.
In total, this will see at least £125,000 spent on the project at Pomeroy Forest.
The proposed works will see the courtyard area at the rear of the facility refurbished along with resurfacing work at the car park, the installation of car park lighting, the demolition of an outbuilding and walls, the installation of picnic tables and bins and the erection of new signage in the area.
Recommending that the funding offer is accepted, council officers confirmed using this offer will free up funding to be used in other areas of the Connecting Pomeroy scheme.
A proposal to accept the funding was put forward by Councillor Dominic Molloy and seconded by Council’s Chair, Councillor Paul McLean who described it as a “no brainer”.
“If Cllr Molloy has proposed it, I am more than happy to second the proposal,” said Council’s Chair.
“I think it is a no brainer as far as I am concerned. It requires a very small contribution from Council and the rest of the money will come from DAERA so I am happy to second the proposal.”
