GROUPS UNITE TO HELP DEVELOP TOWN CENTRE
Groups unite to help develop town centre
A MAJOR new business initiative aimed at regenerating, improving and promoting Omagh was launched this week, through the formation of the Omagh Business Forum.
The new limited company, which is a joint venture between Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Omagh Traders' Association, has been set up to help develop the town centre and provide a focal point for business development in the area.
Among the many issues that will be looked at in the coming months will be pedestrianisation. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and inward investment.
The public will also have a say in the future development of the town, in terms of what they would like to see and what they feel is needed.
Based at the Ulster Bank Buildings in High Street, the Forum is a key component of the 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' initiative - the action plan for Omagh drawn up in the aftermath of last year's bomb.
A business development director/town centre manager, Mr. Shane Campbell, has been appointed by the Forum, the formal launch of which took place on Tuesday.
Earlier, on Monday night, more than 70 people turned up to a prelaunch reception, including members of the Traders' Association, the Chamber, political representatives, key influencers and sponsors.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr. Campbell pointed out that, over the past year, the business community in Omagh had worked diligently to develop a range of new initiatives to benefit the town and district.
One such campaign was the 'Give a Day to Omagh', which helped attract hundreds of visitors to the town last Christmas, at a time when the community at large needed a great deal of support.
"The task is very much a development one, working on the conditions which affect the social and economic development of the Omagh area," he said.
"Omagh Business Forum is aiming to create circumstances within which we can confidently market Omagh as an ideal and prosperous location to live, shop, visit, work and invest in."
Mr. Campbell, who is originally from Cookstown, has been involved in economic development for the past seven years, and has a background in business development, funding and marketing.
Exciting challenge
He said the initiative was an exciting challenge, not just for him, but for all involved with the Chamber and the Traders' Association.
"A key aspect of Omagh Business Forum will be the development of a re-imaging strategy for the area. This task will be managed by the Forum and will involve all groups who have an interest in the future of Omagh," he said.
The strategy will be getting underway soon, and projects that evolve from it will form the basis of the Forum's work over the next three years.
"To assist us in our task we will be surveying the opinions of shoppers, visitors and local traders, and asking them what they want to see in Omagh, what should be changed, and what can be improved and built upon," he said.
He explained that, while the Forum would he mainly serving the business community, members of the public were also welcome to call into the office.
"We want the public to have a say on how they would like their town to look, and welcome any ideas anyone might have," he said.
He added that the Forum was a member of the Association of Town Centre Management, and was the 14th town in Northern Ireland to adopt the town centre management idea.
"We also believe we are the first town in Tyrone to adopt this concept. Aside from immediate town centre issues, such as car parking, pedestrianisation and accessibility, we will also be looking at the strategic issues facing the area, such as roads infrastructure and inward investment," he said.
Mr. Ed Winters, newly appointed chairman of the Traders' Association, said he fully endorsed the Forum's theme of moving forward.
"As a new millennium approaches, the Omagh community deserves excellence from the business support environment, in order to achieve the aims of economic growth and employment creation for our young people," he said.
"The opening of the Town Centre Management Office is an important factor in the overall strategy to achieve this."
Mr Winters pointed out that other towns had overtaken Omagh in terms of development, but added:"Over the past year we have taken time to plan how to move forward with the re-imaging of the town."
Rebuilding
Mr. Patrick Bogues, president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the new initiative in anticipation of its important contribution to the rebuilding and re-imaging of Omagh.
"We hope that this joint initiative with Omagh Traders' Association will provide a focal point for business development, enabling us to work closely with statutory and community sectors in improving the town and area that we all share," he said.
Mr. Bogues said the challenge for everyone was to rebuild the town as a fit place for its inhabitants to live, work and shop in.
"What we want to do is consult with the broader community and try to provide what is needed in terms of shopping, leisure, and other facilities," he said.
"We also see safety as a big issue, and are spearheading an initiative to have CCTV cameras positioned in the town centre.
"In the medium-term, these should have the effect of reducing crime, and doing away with the 'shutter society' that has grown in recent years. People will be able to browse at shop windows in the evenings."
Mr. Bogues went on: "Times have changed, and people's shopping habits have changed. Omagh needs to adapt to that, and we have a lot of work to do, especially when we look at some of our neighbouring towns.
"This initiative is a signal of how seriously the business community is taking this issue, and its commitment to promote change and to provide a better environment for the people of the area."
He said the Chamber was keen to emphasise the role of Omagh as regional centre, and it was extremely important that the town centre reflected the size of the community.
"In establishing the office, I would like to recognise the support of Nestle UK, Nestle Ireland, Omagh District Council, Omagh District Partnership, and the many individual contributors to its funding," he added.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of Omagh council, Mr. John McKinney, said he, too looked forward to the contribution being made by the new initiative.
"We very much welcome and support this, the latest initiative of 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' to come to fruition," he said.
"We believe that Omagh Business Forum has a central and important role to play in the future development and marketing of Omagh town and district.
"The town centre is the heart of any community, and this new development will serve to bring together the council, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Traders' Association, among others, in working on a collective plan and strategy to ensure that Omagh retains and builds upon its position as both the County town of Tyrone, and as a key service location within the region."
A MAJOR new business initiative aimed at regenerating, improving and promoting Omagh was launched this week, through the formation of the Omagh Business Forum.
The new limited company, which is a joint venture between Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Omagh Traders' Association, has been set up to help develop the town centre and provide a focal point for business development in the area.
Among the many issues that will be looked at in the coming months will be pedestrianisation. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and inward investment.
The public will also have a say in the future development of the town, in terms of what they would like to see and what they feel is needed.
Based at the Ulster Bank Buildings in High Street, the Forum is a key component of the 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' initiative - the action plan for Omagh drawn up in the aftermath of last year's bomb.
A business development director/town centre manager, Mr. Shane Campbell, has been appointed by the Forum, the formal launch of which took place on Tuesday.
Earlier, on Monday night, more than 70 people turned up to a prelaunch reception, including members of the Traders' Association, the Chamber, political representatives, key influencers and sponsors.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr. Campbell pointed out that, over the past year, the business community in Omagh had worked diligently to develop a range of new initiatives to benefit the town and district.
One such campaign was the 'Give a Day to Omagh', which helped attract hundreds of visitors to the town last Christmas, at a time when the community at large needed a great deal of support.
"The task is very much a development one, working on the conditions which affect the social and economic development of the Omagh area," he said.
"Omagh Business Forum is aiming to create circumstances within which we can confidently market Omagh as an ideal and prosperous location to live, shop, visit, work and invest in."
Mr. Campbell, who is originally from Cookstown, has been involved in economic development for the past seven years, and has a background in business development, funding and marketing.
Exciting challenge
He said the initiative was an exciting challenge, not just for him, but for all involved with the Chamber and the Traders' Association.
"A key aspect of Omagh Business Forum will be the development of a re-imaging strategy for the area. This task will be managed by the Forum and will involve all groups who have an interest in the future of Omagh," he said.
The strategy will be getting underway soon, and projects that evolve from it will form the basis of the Forum's work over the next three years.
"To assist us in our task we will be surveying the opinions of shoppers, visitors and local traders, and asking them what they want to see in Omagh, what should be changed, and what can be improved and built upon," he said.
He explained that, while the Forum would he mainly serving the business community, members of the public were also welcome to call into the office.
"We want the public to have a say on how they would like their town to look, and welcome any ideas anyone might have," he said.
He added that the Forum was a member of the Association of Town Centre Management, and was the 14th town in Northern Ireland to adopt the town centre management idea.
"We also believe we are the first town in Tyrone to adopt this concept. Aside from immediate town centre issues, such as car parking, pedestrianisation and accessibility, we will also be looking at the strategic issues facing the area, such as roads infrastructure and inward investment," he said.
Mr. Ed Winters, newly appointed chairman of the Traders' Association, said he fully endorsed the Forum's theme of moving forward.
"As a new millennium approaches, the Omagh community deserves excellence from the business support environment, in order to achieve the aims of economic growth and employment creation for our young people," he said.
"The opening of the Town Centre Management Office is an important factor in the overall strategy to achieve this."
Mr Winters pointed out that other towns had overtaken Omagh in terms of development, but added:"Over the past year we have taken time to plan how to move forward with the re-imaging of the town."
Rebuilding
Mr. Patrick Bogues, president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the new initiative in anticipation of its important contribution to the rebuilding and re-imaging of Omagh.
"We hope that this joint initiative with Omagh Traders' Association will provide a focal point for business development, enabling us to work closely with statutory and community sectors in improving the town and area that we all share," he said.
Mr. Bogues said the challenge for everyone was to rebuild the town as a fit place for its inhabitants to live, work and shop in.
"What we want to do is consult with the broader community and try to provide what is needed in terms of shopping, leisure, and other facilities," he said.
"We also see safety as a big issue, and are spearheading an initiative to have CCTV cameras positioned in the town centre.
"In the medium-term, these should have the effect of reducing crime, and doing away with the 'shutter society' that has grown in recent years. People will be able to browse at shop windows in the evenings."
Mr. Bogues went on: "Times have changed, and people's shopping habits have changed. Omagh needs to adapt to that, and we have a lot of work to do, especially when we look at some of our neighbouring towns.
"This initiative is a signal of how seriously the business community is taking this issue, and its commitment to promote change and to provide a better environment for the people of the area."
He said the Chamber was keen to emphasise the role of Omagh as regional centre, and it was extremely important that the town centre reflected the size of the community.
"In establishing the office, I would like to recognise the support of Nestle UK, Nestle Ireland, Omagh District Council, Omagh District Partnership, and the many individual contributors to its funding," he added.
Meanwhile, the chief executive of Omagh council, Mr. John McKinney, said he, too looked forward to the contribution being made by the new initiative.
"We very much welcome and support this, the latest initiative of 'Omagh Renewal and Beyond' to come to fruition," he said.
"We believe that Omagh Business Forum has a central and important role to play in the future development and marketing of Omagh town and district.
"The town centre is the heart of any community, and this new development will serve to bring together the council, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Traders' Association, among others, in working on a collective plan and strategy to ensure that Omagh retains and builds upon its position as both the County town of Tyrone, and as a key service location within the region."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1401
Published Date: 16-Sep-99
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