COMMUNITY PLAN AIMS TO TALK UP OMAGH
Community plan aims to 'talk up' Omagh and its surrounds
THE need to 'talk up' Omagh amid consistent complaints that the town is beset by apathy and lack of pride has been identified as a key part of the newly launched Omagh Community Plan.
And the plan, promoted jointly by Omagh District Council and Omagh District Partnership, is keen to see the Omagh district move forward positively.
The plan is the result of a coming together of wide range of organisations and individuals with an interest in, or commitment to Omagh.
The launch of the plan and daylong round table conference took place in the Mellon Country Inn on Thursday morning last.
The plan looks at a number of overall issues, including rural development and agriculture, Omagh town and its role in the district, building stronger and peaceful communities, creating the conditions for a vibrant local economy, tourism and public services.
One element of the plan looks towards developing Omagh.
It says: "In developing the plan a sense emerged of Omagh needing to do more in terms of 'making its case' to the outside world. There was a recognition that there is no central Omagh brand, image or message that all the interest groups subscribe to and promote.
Apathy
"At the same time there is a consistent complaint that Omagh is beset by apathy and lacks civic pride. Making a positive statement about Omagh is therefore seen as a hugely significant issue".
Referring to the 'feelgood' factor the plan states that since August 1998 in particular the date of the bomb atrocity many people in Omagh and beyond had little to feel good about.
"Nonetheless many people believe there is a need to 'talk up' Omagh and district...to deliberately decide to draw full value from the district's many positives. We need to do more locally to create our own 'feelgood' and probably to do so largely by acknowledging our achievements and celebrating our success".
Under the banner of setting targets the plan further states: "The Community Plan is a strategic document concerned with the big picture rather than the detail. In its early stages it is also likely to be aspirational rather than definitive.
"Nonetheless it is important that from the start the plan is seen to be working towards some specific ends...its whole purpose after all is to make a difference. In this spirit the Community Plan has no qualms about setting a number of targets which Omagh as a district and a series of communities should work to achieve over the next five years."
Hard work
Formally launching the plan, the council chairman, Mr. Liam McQuaid said that it was the culmination of much hard work.
"Drawn together by Omagh District Council and the Omagh District Partnership, it represents input from a wide range of organisations and individuals with a common interest, namely the future of our district".
He went on: "The Community Plan is a framework document, not a definitive plan, and, I believe offers a solid foundation upon which to build a new and better Omagh district.
"I am confident that through time it will be developed and improved upon even further.
"Omagh District Council, throughout the 1990s, has been at the forefront of the drive to create a better district. However we realise that we, alone, do not have the resources to do it all.
"We have, in the last decade, therefore embraced the idea of partnership working wholeheartedly and are keen to involve anyone who has
something positive to offer."
Mr. McQuaid continued: "President John F. Kennedy encouraged young Americans in the early sixties with the immortal and much quoted
phrase, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country'.
"I do not have presidential aspirations nor can Omagh be compared in any way to the United Stated, but I would challenge you today, as
representatives of the public, private and community sectors, to examine what role you can play in the delivery of the Omagh Community Plan and work in partnership to ensure that the next round of EU and public funding will have a real impact on the social and economic development of the district."
Mr. McQuaid continued: "The Community Plan is not the property of any one organisation. It belongs to all of us who share a common aim to see the Omagh district develop its full potential and I feel that it is incumbent upon all of us to seize ownership of the Plan and to work collectively in taking it forward.
"The launch of the Omagh 2010 Strategy in November of last year was an important step in terms of the further development of Omagh town. Today's launch of the Community Plan, which is a strategy embracing the entire district, is a further significant step. The work now begins".
Mr. McQuaid congratulated the council staff and the staff of Omagh District Partnership who had put so much work into the development of the plan and into the organisation of the launch event.
All those present at the launch were welcomed by Ms. Patricia Dunne, chairperson of Omagh District Partnership.
Reflecting on progress made she said that in June of last year over 100 participants came together to develop a common framework to which all the key public, voluntary and community organisations should work.
"Following this an intensive series of workshops were held and all this work culminated in the production of the draft Omagh Community Plan 2000.
"The draft plan was widely circulated for public consultation in December of last year and dozens of responses were received," said Ms. Dunne.
Guest speaker at the function was Katrina Godfrey, economic policy unit, office of the First Minster and Deputy First Minister, who praised the initiative.
THE need to 'talk up' Omagh amid consistent complaints that the town is beset by apathy and lack of pride has been identified as a key part of the newly launched Omagh Community Plan.
And the plan, promoted jointly by Omagh District Council and Omagh District Partnership, is keen to see the Omagh district move forward positively.
The plan is the result of a coming together of wide range of organisations and individuals with an interest in, or commitment to Omagh.
The launch of the plan and daylong round table conference took place in the Mellon Country Inn on Thursday morning last.
The plan looks at a number of overall issues, including rural development and agriculture, Omagh town and its role in the district, building stronger and peaceful communities, creating the conditions for a vibrant local economy, tourism and public services.
One element of the plan looks towards developing Omagh.
It says: "In developing the plan a sense emerged of Omagh needing to do more in terms of 'making its case' to the outside world. There was a recognition that there is no central Omagh brand, image or message that all the interest groups subscribe to and promote.
Apathy
"At the same time there is a consistent complaint that Omagh is beset by apathy and lacks civic pride. Making a positive statement about Omagh is therefore seen as a hugely significant issue".
Referring to the 'feelgood' factor the plan states that since August 1998 in particular the date of the bomb atrocity many people in Omagh and beyond had little to feel good about.
"Nonetheless many people believe there is a need to 'talk up' Omagh and district...to deliberately decide to draw full value from the district's many positives. We need to do more locally to create our own 'feelgood' and probably to do so largely by acknowledging our achievements and celebrating our success".
Under the banner of setting targets the plan further states: "The Community Plan is a strategic document concerned with the big picture rather than the detail. In its early stages it is also likely to be aspirational rather than definitive.
"Nonetheless it is important that from the start the plan is seen to be working towards some specific ends...its whole purpose after all is to make a difference. In this spirit the Community Plan has no qualms about setting a number of targets which Omagh as a district and a series of communities should work to achieve over the next five years."
Hard work
Formally launching the plan, the council chairman, Mr. Liam McQuaid said that it was the culmination of much hard work.
"Drawn together by Omagh District Council and the Omagh District Partnership, it represents input from a wide range of organisations and individuals with a common interest, namely the future of our district".
He went on: "The Community Plan is a framework document, not a definitive plan, and, I believe offers a solid foundation upon which to build a new and better Omagh district.
"I am confident that through time it will be developed and improved upon even further.
"Omagh District Council, throughout the 1990s, has been at the forefront of the drive to create a better district. However we realise that we, alone, do not have the resources to do it all.
"We have, in the last decade, therefore embraced the idea of partnership working wholeheartedly and are keen to involve anyone who has
something positive to offer."
Mr. McQuaid continued: "President John F. Kennedy encouraged young Americans in the early sixties with the immortal and much quoted
phrase, 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country'.
"I do not have presidential aspirations nor can Omagh be compared in any way to the United Stated, but I would challenge you today, as
representatives of the public, private and community sectors, to examine what role you can play in the delivery of the Omagh Community Plan and work in partnership to ensure that the next round of EU and public funding will have a real impact on the social and economic development of the district."
Mr. McQuaid continued: "The Community Plan is not the property of any one organisation. It belongs to all of us who share a common aim to see the Omagh district develop its full potential and I feel that it is incumbent upon all of us to seize ownership of the Plan and to work collectively in taking it forward.
"The launch of the Omagh 2010 Strategy in November of last year was an important step in terms of the further development of Omagh town. Today's launch of the Community Plan, which is a strategy embracing the entire district, is a further significant step. The work now begins".
Mr. McQuaid congratulated the council staff and the staff of Omagh District Partnership who had put so much work into the development of the plan and into the organisation of the launch event.
All those present at the launch were welcomed by Ms. Patricia Dunne, chairperson of Omagh District Partnership.
Reflecting on progress made she said that in June of last year over 100 participants came together to develop a common framework to which all the key public, voluntary and community organisations should work.
"Following this an intensive series of workshops were held and all this work culminated in the production of the draft Omagh Community Plan 2000.
"The draft plan was widely circulated for public consultation in December of last year and dozens of responses were received," said Ms. Dunne.
Guest speaker at the function was Katrina Godfrey, economic policy unit, office of the First Minster and Deputy First Minister, who praised the initiative.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0881
Published Date: 31-May-01
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