Councillor urges caution over Camel’s Hump development
Thursday, 12 January 2012
An aerial view of the site of the proposed development next to the Camel’s Hump.
A COUNCILLOR is calling for an independent study of Strabane's most ambitious regeneration bid in decades, amid fears it could "desecrate" the town centre.
Patsy Kelly made the call at a meeting of council on Monday night, where the multi-million pound project was due to be considered by councillors.
In the coming weeks, Mr Kelly will welcome Glynn Roberts, chief executive of NIIRTA (Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association), to Strabane to assess the impact such a development would have on the already flagging town centre and judge the overall prospects for the traditional centre of commerce.
The development, known as the Three Rivers Project, would see the regeneration of the former military site, known locally as the Camel's Hump, which straddles Strabane and Lifford.
The planning application outlines an employment and learning campus and a separate employment park, tourism attractions, such as a riverine wetland park and a wildlife centre, community facilities alongside a commercial retail park, a hotel complex and a children's indoor play area.
Several multi-nationals are being tentatively linked with the development of the 49-acre site - which could create 1,800 jobs if realised.
However, not everyone is welcoming the initiative.
This week, Mr Kelly said he has been contacted by several proprietors of small, town centre shops. They are concerned that the development could move trade to the border, where several multi-nationals such as Asda already enjoy healthy profit margins.
“I know they are talking about creating 400 jobs, but how many jobs could be lost elsewhere because of this in the town centre and in the other developments beside this site," Mr Kelly said yesterday (Tuesday).
“What kinds of jobs will be created? There are a lot of part-time jobs that will make up that 400 [proposed].
“My fear would be that this could desecrate the town centre. It could leave the town centre like a ghost town and move everything down to Lifford Road."
He added: "I am not a lone voice on this. I'm raising concerns as a business person and listening to other traders in the town.
“That's why I'm looking for a strategic review of this and an impact study to be carried out on the [effects in the] town centre."
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