It is my belief that both developments are very much linked. Derry City Council has an excellent opportunity to leave a legacy in communities across Derry by focusing on investing in community facilities in deprived areas.

The sad story is that in Creggan alone we have four former recreation facilities or play parks which lie either totally abandoned or dilapidated - The Bishops Field, Handball Alley, Circular Road and Inveroe Gardens.

In the past these facilities provided the space for children and adults to play, exercise and engage in a positive way. What we need now is an investment plan and a commitment of resources that would deliver quality neighbourhood parks and even smaller satellite parks in housing estates, particularly those which have a high degree of multi-deprivation. This investment, I would argue, is urgently required in the Creggan area in particular.

Last month Triax launched the findings of its Central @ 70 project at the CNP Neighbourhood Centre, known locally and affectionately as The Corned Beef Tin. The project saw a broad consultation at a community level involving local schools, youth groups, residents’ groups and adult education groups. It asked people to outline what they would like to see Central Drive looking like in ten years’ time. The results of the consultation were astounding.

Not only did the people involved focus on a vision for Central Drive, but they touched on other much-needed facilities in the area. It was an explosion of positive ideas and visions for the area covering community facilities, environmentally-friendly power sourcing and play parks. It was an empowering and wonderful community expression of creativity, imagination and, most importantly, a clear demonstration that people know what they want and need. Investment is now required to realise that vision.

This investment should, where possible, be carried out in partnership with local communities. In the recent past Community and Voluntary organisations have been able to lever in considerable amounts of money from other funding sources to build and develop community infrastructure such as play parks, pitches or ‘mugas’, and even to enhance Council-owned but community managed buildings.

The concern that I would have is that in many of these instances it was the community which took the lead and the council that followed. It is vital that Community and Voluntary groups do assist and lever in additional resources, but Council investment in areas should not rely solely on that. Derry City Council need to be pro-active in its drive to enhance communities and services and view the additional funding from the community as a bonus, as opposed to it being the other way around.

Currently the Community and Voluntary sector is under immense pressure in terms of its funding. Derry is edging closer to losing vital services and employment in the Community and Voluntary sector.