Community relations warm up in Warm Spaces

AN unexpected but welcome side effect has arisen from the council's bid to address fuel poverty by providing warm spaces.

Community groups from areas associated with Northern Ireland's opposing traditions are mixing for the first time, a DUP councillor has revealed.

“It’s bringing groups together that would never normally be keen on coming together,” Adrian McQuillan told a committee meeting on Tuesday.

He was speaking about how members of his local Moneydig Rural Network had forged relationships with members of a community group in Ballerin.

The groups encountered each other at the council’s warm spaces scheme in Gavagh’s GADDA building.

They have since been trading tactics on attracting funding for their own schemes.

“It’s a welcome step forward and it’s good the council is facilitating it,” said Councillor McQuillan.

Full story in this week's Chronicle.