Riverine Community Park in Lifford-Strabane has been delayed again

A joint project developed by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council to develop a 30-acre dedicated cross-border and cross-community shared space has been delayed again.

Officials from both councils met with representatives from the Riverine Community Forum at their monthly meeting recently to provide an update on the project and to give an overview of the challenges faced by both councils' in recent months.

The project will include a park of regional significance, which will be located along the banks of the River Foyle on both sides, comprising a number of key elements including outdoor events space, managed parkland, enhanced river access, environmental area, an adventure play area and community building.

This shared space will be linked by a pedestrian and cycle bridge which will span across the river, representing a physical and symbolic link in connecting the communities of Strabane, Lifford and their rural hinterlands.

Both councils work very closely with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) to determine what elements of the project can now be delivered if any before the end of the programme date of December 31, 2023

At present key statutory approvals remain outstanding. While it is possible that some of the statutory approvals will be resolved in time to facilitate the construction of various project elements within the PEACE IV funding envelope it is highly unlikely that all will be resolved in time.

This represents a significant risk to the project which lies outside of the direct control of both councils and which is too great for the councils or the PEACE IV Programme to bear.

Following detailed engagement between Donegal County Council, Derry City and Strabane District Council and the SEUPB it has been concluded that the project is no longer viable for completion within the timeframe remaining for the PEACE IV Programme (end December 2023).

"This is a very disappointing outcome for all concerned, not least the communities that would have benefited from the project," said a spokesperson for Donegal Co Council today.

"Both councils would like to see as much work as possible continue in 2023 within the confines of the PEACE IV Programme and are actively engaging with SEUPB to explore what is possible in this regard.

"In addition, the PEACEPLUS programme will open for applications shortly and will contain a number of themes that are compatible with the Riverine Park project.

"It is expected that as the Riverine project is now very well advanced in terms of community engagement, preparation and design and also that the outstanding statutory approvals should be in place this will put the project in a strong position for an application to PEACEPLUS."

The spokesperson added that Donegal Co Council as lead partner and Derry City and Strabane District Council as project partner remained fully committed to delivering on all elements of the Riverine Project.

"We share the disappointment of the Riverine Community Forum, elected members, and the communities in the Lifford and Strabane areas that this will not be achieved within the Peace IV Programme.

"Both councils are determined that works that can be delivered by December 2023 are progressed and are actively engaging with SEUPB in this regard. We are encouraged by the positive engagement to date with SEUPB in seeking to achieve this objective but accept that this must comply with the Peace IV programme rules."

According to the spokesperson, both councils are also committed to submitting an application to the PEACEPLUS Programme in addition to exploring alternative funding options for the completion of the Riverine Project and will make every effort to ensure that this much-needed infrastructure with resulting community engagement benefits is delivered for the Communities in Lifford and Strabane and surrounding areas.