The release of a recent report has identified the need for improved community programmes and facilities in border areas due to sharp population growth in the last 15 years.

The Rural Development Partnership launched an  Area Audit and Strategy Report of the Culmore, Muff, Quigley’s Point and Redcastle areas that revealed these areas had experienced up to 500 per cent residential increase and were in need of reviewed community services and facilities.

Mura McLaughlin, of Muff Community Development, said co-operation between communities was vital to build a better environ.

“It’s about four communities working together; we need to get our heads together and sit round the table and make our community better by working together,” said Mr McLaughlin.

“Border areas have seen more than a four-fold increase with people coming from Derry to live here and we need to organise community services to deal with this and strengthen community organisations.”

Mr McLaughlin said that by be able to work together all communities will prosper.

“Each of the different areas has different strengths. Quigley’s Point has fantastic facilities and we have already run two cross border summer programmes there,” he said.

“Muff has a community hall that was refurbished but it lacks the capacity and Culmore suffers from a lack of community facilities.” 

However, Mr McLaughlin said the onus to improve did not just lie with the communities to make changes and that statutory bodies would need to lend a hand. 

“We have the statistics backing us up to be able to go to the County Council, the HSC and the equivalent bodies in the North; we have a case made for them to look at that,” he said.

As well as providing better community facilities and services, Mr McLaughlin said: “We’re also looking to broaden out and use the river as another amenity, as it is a big resource that is very underused.

“The more of the new residents that can integrate themselves into the area and feel at home…the better.”

Community leaders in the four communities, collectively known as the Foyle West Villages Network, are inviting local people to volunteer their skills for up to three hours per month to complete a range of development over the next four years.

If you are interested you can contact Laurie McGee or Liam Breslin, Quigley’s Point and Redcastle on 07493 83653 or Mura McLaughlin, Muff on 07493 84572.