City deal ‘reassessment’ should not impact plans for Strabane

WHILE it has emerged that the £250 million ‘City Deal’ for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area is being ‘reassessed’ due to rising costs, the planned regeneration of Strabane town centre will not be affected, a councillor has said.

Paul Gallagher, an independent councillor for the Tyrone town, was quick to reassure local residents after a special meeting of the council heard that some of the projects may have to be “modified” or even “combined” due to the impact of inflation.

The proposals will see Strabane town centre transformed over the next number of years with the building of a new state-of-the-art health care centre, a new pedestrian bridge, a new home for the North West Regional College Strabane Campus and a brand new leisure centre.

But, speaking to the Tyrone Herald afterwards, Cllr Gallagher said, “The announcements this week will only affect the projects based in Derry. This should not have any impact at all on the Strabane projects.

“The town regeneration project has already figured in the rise in inflation and has already been tilted slightly to accommodate price hikes.”

Cllr Gallagher added, “The people of Strabane have been waiting for a new health centre and leisure facilities for a long time and these plans will ensure that we will get state-of-the-art amenities in the middle of the town.

“The new college campus will also be a huge uplift and will
help footfall throughout the
town.

“Hopefully, work can begin sooner rather than later, but diggers and building work looks to be just around the corner.”