The former parochial hall at Cathedral Road in Armagh is to be brought back into productive use – as a new state-of-the-art community venue.
And an extensive consultation period is well underway to ascertain just what is needed and should be included within the facility, to be known as St Patrick’s Community Resource Centre.
The governing body tasked with delivering the project have launched a survey and want to hear from local people on local needs.
The St Patrick’s Resource Centre project is an exciting initiative to refurbish and develop the old Parochial Hall on the Cathedral Road.
The vision for the project is to create “a vibrant, modern building with a range of different facilities which can offer activities and events to bring people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities together in a positive environment”.
Central to the decision making in relation to the proposed community resource centre will be an extensive consultation process with various community, voluntary and statutory organisations proactively engaged in delivering services to local people in Armagh, who may have a role in the development and implementation of the project.
Based on the feedback, aspirations and priorities of local people, the production of an evidence-based vision for the project will be completed.
The St Patrick Community Resource Centre governing body will facilitate the consultation process which will require the input of residents and community-based organisations within Armagh City and surrounding areas.
Its chairperson, Louis O’ Neill, said: “I want to urge everyone to take part in the consultation as the feedback from this will be essential in producing a comprehensive needs based document for the proposed community resource centre.
“I hope that this project will meet all the necessary criteria for success and enable communities as a whole to benefit from a proper resource centre.
“There is an obvious need for such a centre and this is a real opportunity for local people to feed into plans that will help shape the future of their area.”
The SPCRC welcomes and appreciates any comments and views which will assist in the development of a community resource centre in Armagh.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in the consultation process can follow the link below and complete the short questionnaire to help support the project:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/stpatscentre
Among the questions posed by the survey relates to a possible range of facilities or services, whether or not they are needed within Armagh and if people feel they should be included in this new centre.
They list indoor hall, rooms for meeting or training space, heritage facilities or space, coffee shop or restaurant facilities, childcare/creche, training or educational facilities, office space for small business, facilities specifically for young people, gym, bowling alley, indoor climbing wall, soft play area.
Survey participants also have the opportunity to make their own suggestions on what they feel is needed and would like to see.
The SPCRC requires the overall process to be completed by Monday, June 11.
If you would like to find out more please contact Stephen Fields, Secretary, St Patrick’s Community Resource Centre Governing Body, on 077 5994 9314 or email: stpatscentre@gmail.com
