22 June 2010
Presidential Address
(Loraine Griffin)

I want to thank Gerard O’Hanlon as the outgoing President of Omagh Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Gerard has worked very hard over the past year. I congratulate and thank him for his achievements and dedication to the Chamber.

The role of President is a very tough one and I hope to do it justice. During this year I intend to continue implementing the current business plan which is primarily focused on building our membership and Lobbying to strengthen the business voice for the area. Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry does what it does through lobbying, creating a strong voice for Omagh and developing networks and contacts throughout all levels of government and the business sector. At the heart of this is the Chamber Council which usually meets at 5:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of every month in Omagh Enterprise Centre.

We also have a range of sub-committees designed to tackle specific issues such as Membership, Lobbying and a new one – Social and Networking. We have been through tough times economically for a while now. It’s very clear that tough times are still ahead and we must not kid ourselves about that. We can’t change the direction of the wind but we can adjust our sails to reach our destination. So its not all negative, in fact we have so much to be positive about. The Review of Public Administration has been delayed but this gives us more time and opportunity to create our future, secure better public services and attract more employment. Better still, on a rough estimate, there is over £2bn worth of investment coming to the Omagh area. I intend to ensure that OCCI not only concentrates on important local issues but also that we are fully prepared to utilise the opportunities and vast potential ahead.
It is my intention to maintain the momentum of several important strategic projects – just a few examples include:

• A5 Western Transport Corridor – a new dual carriageway that will make Omagh a true hub for the South West region;
• Project Kelvin – linking us up to a high speed Broadband highway;
• A new hospital;
• The unique Education Village at Lisanelly;
• Several new interconnected business parks with hotel, retail and leisure facilities;
• A major Town Centre Masterplan.

Each of these brings huge benefit to our District in themselves but when you consider the job creation, inward investment, added value, spin-offs and future possibilities – it really is truly transformational and mind-blowing. Omagh has changed dramatically in the past 5 years alone, just think how our District could look in another 5 or even 10 years time. The Chamber of Commerce is Omagh’s networking and business voice and it will be a key force working for Omagh’s future success. It’s so easy to complain from the outside but if you’re not working as part of the solution, or at least offering possible solutions, then really you’re just another brick in the wall. That is why I want to appeal to all local Traders and business people from all sectors and backgrounds in the District to join Omagh Chamber – together we must work to create a better future for the whole area.

I welcome Elaine Fyffe as our new Membership Officer. Elaine has been actively working to promote and support the Chamber and build on our membership. I have no doubt that Elaine will do an excellent job, its great for the Chamber to have her on board and she will keep us right over the next 12 months and hopefully well beyond. Elaine has Membership Packs with her tonight and she can be contacted at the Chamber Office in Omagh Enterprise Centre. If you are not a member I strongly encourage you to join, and if you are a member why not join the Chamber Council or one of our sub-committees. Membership of Omagh Chamber is open, you do not need to be asked in order join, we are not an elitist organisation and our members come from a truly diverse range of backgrounds. Before I finish, I just want to mention a note of thanks to Elaine for organising this AGM and the staff of Rue who have done a sterling job hosting this event. It must be said that the Main Street Entertainment quarter – which was not here 5 years ago – is one of many excellent examples of local business, trade and enterprise our town has to offer. I want to now leave you with a Barry McGuigan quote that I have been saying a lot to people recently to give them a much needed uplift, and I truly believe this:

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.”

Omagh Chamber of Commerce ‘Business Person of the Year 2010

Peter McBride of the Spar Group was thrilled to be the recipient of this year’s Omagh Chamber of Commerce ‘Business Person of the Year’ award.  In a missive to the chamber’s President, Gerard O’Hanlon, the Omagh man described the recognition as ‘fantastic.’ Over 100 members of the local business community and public representatives attended the award ceremony and banquet in Kelly’s Inn, Garvaghey on Friday 21st May.

Amongst the distinguished guests were the Chairman of Omagh District Council (ODC), Paddy McGowan, ODC Chief Executive, Danny McSorley and Joe Barbour who is President of Strabane Chamber of Commerce. Guest speaker at the award night was leading entrepreneur, Siobhan McAleer from Dromore who set up The Mortgage Shop in 1992. Today the company has 21 outlets across the North.

On behalf of her husband, Julie McBride accepted Peter’s prestigious award from Dr Nicholas O’Shiel, the Chief Executive of Omagh Enterprise Company Limited, sponsors of the prestigious accolade. The McBride Spar Group currently operates seven stores with two in Omagh, one in Dromore, three in Enniskillen and another in Lurgan. They employ over 240 workers on a full and part time basis and expect to take on a further 40 people by the end of the summer. The group is the largest independent Spar retailer in the North and has been honoured with a number of awards in recent years. These include the NI Retailer of the Year in 2001 and winner of the UK Independent Retailer of the Year award in 2004. Mr McBride was unable to attend the event as he had already committed to travelling to the International Spar Congress in Dongguan in China.

Tribute

Mr O’Hanlon was glowing in his tribute to Mr McBride and the work that is being carried out by businesses throughout Omagh.  He told the gathering, “Peter’s work is a great illustration of a local business that has grown over the years and continues to be successful despite the current economic climate. I wish to congratulate him on this fantastic contribution to the local economy and providing employment for well over 400 people. He is a truly worthy recipient of the award.” In his optimistic address, he added, “In these tough and uncertain economic times it is to be welcomed that there is such interest and potential investment in the Omagh area. There are currently several major developments planned in the residential and public sector for Omagh.” Amongst the enterprises he highlighted were, the A5 Western Transport Corridor and Omagh Riverside Walk as well as a number of commercial developments.

He concluded, “These developments will bring foreign investment to Omagh and give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to develop new business locally. It will also give our young people the opportunity to have highly skilled well paid employment locally. “In these tough and uncertain times it is most important that we stay positive, work hard and always tell people how great Omagh is. We have come through much tougher and more uncertain times than this before. We will come through these times stronger and more determined than ever.”

Anyone who would be interesting in obtaining more information or in becoming a member of Omagh Chamber of Commerce is asked to contact Elaine Fyffe, membership office, on 028 82249494, Ext 259.

Article originally published in the Ulster Herald

With the relocation of the schools to the Lisanelly campus, this opens up prime sites in the town centre area for development. This comes back to maintaining a vibrant town centre that has been a key element of the work of the Chamber since its inception. The release of the education grounds within the town centre boundaries can only be good for Omagh to grow as a strong retail and business hub in the west of the province. The new South West College brought state-of-the-art education to Omagh, offering local students first class facilities. With the new ethos of educating people to work and engage local businesses to become partners with the College can only be good for the town in the future. The College is excellent at engaging with businesses to gauge the supply and demand necessary for what is needed in vocational areas such as road construction, which will be very important with the development of the A5 in the coming years. The Chamber will strive to help the local education sector adapt to provide education and training to meet the needs of local employers for the future.

If it was only one or two consortia, you may think they are taking a risk, but to be getting three, four, five developers competing to be the first to secure planning to commence work and create employment locally is proof Omagh is an attractive and viable location for inward investment. There is a buzz of interest and it is clear investors see Omagh as a great place to invest with a prosperous future ahead. These are not just pipe dreams as some of these developments have already started construction. The companies behind these proposals have been spending considerable amounts of money researching and investigating the potential for development in Omagh and it is clear from these studies, Omagh and its people are a very feasible proposition. These companies do not gamble millions of pounds on a site and proposal that might work. It is a very well informed risk they are taking and bodes well for the next decade in Omagh. These extensive proposals will only help boost Omagh’s standing and create further interest in the years to come.

The Developing Better Services team are local people and they really do have the best interests of Omagh at heart, given the constraints of the Department of Health and the health budget. They are doing the best they can do, and should be helped and supported in any way possible to provide the people of Omagh with the best possible health service for generations to come.

There has been recent concern with no specific timeline being given since construction for the new £190 million Omagh Area Hospital was delayed due to finance difficulties. This is an issue we as a Chamber will continue to press the Minister and his department on, as the development of the hospital is imperative for the safety of the Omagh community. The new hospital is a key piece of support infrastructure that is imperative if business is going to be attracted to the town. People living and working here want to know there families are going to be safe. It is also essential for capital projects such as the new hospital gets off the ground to provide a well needed boost to the local construction industry.


The A5 by-pass will have a positive impact in helping to relieve congestion in the town and make Omagh a more appealing and relaxing destination for shoppers. The through-pass is at capacity at present, but when you remove the passing traffic from that, the town will become quite easy to negotiate and will become more accessible and welcoming as a shopping destination. This offers an opportunity to attract new industry to the town and Omagh has to be prepared to take full advantage.

Local companies are already bidding to gain a slice of an estimated 3,000 jobs, which are expected to be created during the course of both the preparation and construction of the new A5 route. The A5WTC project will leave a lasting legacy for future generations. This is an opportunity to improve safety and journey times on this key transport corridor and will consequently stimulate investment in the North West through development of vital links for business, trade and tourism. We have been talking about Omagh being a regional hub for a several years now and the A5 will help bring that to fruition and we have to be prepared for that. Coming out of the recession we will have a roads infrastructure in place, which will allow the town to grow and flourish and be able to compete on an even keel with the rest of the province. With the opening of the A5 corridor the northwest will be opened up and made more assessable for creating greater business connectivity.

Suddenly access to The International, The City, Derry and Dublin airports will all be less than two hours from Omagh. In Global investment terms to have four airports, as well as the various docks in Dublin, Belfast, Larne, Derry and Sligo are key elements for inward investment. Now with guaranteed, consistent travel times, no longer having to allow for time spent frustrated behind slow moving vehicles, business will become easier and travel will be much safer.

New hotels, business premises, an education village, transport and pedestrian improvements are just some of the major developments earmarked to transform Omagh in the coming years. Much good work has been done for Omagh, people are well disposed towards the region but this momentum must be kept up. Omagh is a good community town and it will be nice to see Omagh fulfil its County Town status with a vibrant town centre. In these challenging times it is important that Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry concentrates on important local issues and ensure that Omagh is fully prepared for the opportunities ahead. Many of the developments proposed for Omagh in the next decade are all interconnected and rely on each other for the future success and sustainability of a prosperous and vibrant town centre, with a thriving local economy.

As we talk about inward investment, education, the new Hospital and the A5 that these are seen as separate projects, but they are all inter-related. We must look to develop all these developments with equal vigour. By 2015, if all proposals discussed proceed, we will have a brand new roads network, the best educational campus in the UK if not Europe. We will have several new business parks, hotels, retail and leisure facilities. Omagh will be an attractive place to work and live, with a wide range of night time entertainment. With all areas catered for, many who previously moved away from the town in search of employment will be attracted home to avail of what an Omagh of the future can offer.

The Omagh: Towards a City Vision for 2025 document is intended to serve as a ‘road map for the future advancement and sustainable development of Omagh.’ It sets out the challenges which must be addressed and identifies what constricts development, and outlines the changes and initiatives over the next decades which will act as springboards for the future development and growth of the town.

Its key proposals include:

• Developing opportunities of Lisanelly/St Lucia MOD lands and other key land banks
• Relocating up to six schools to the Lisanelly site
• Maximising potential of River Strule so that the waterfront becomes a key feature within the town
• Ensuring successful completion of Strategic Road Improvements such as the A5 dual-carriageway project
• Embedding enterprise, growing tourism, maintaining and enhancing Omagh’s role as a centre of excellence in Public Administration, maximising the opportunities from RPA and promoting Omagh as the regional economic hub
• Securing the continuing vitality of rural schools
• An improved Quality of Life for the people of Omagh through the advancement in their economic, educational, health and general well being

The Omagh Town Centre Masterplan identifies and illustrates unprecedented opportunities for major regeneration and development throughout Omagh. It sets out a framework for the creation of new homes, new business premises, multi-storey car parking, public squares, bars and restaurants, social activities and transport and pedestrian improvements.

The document states that increased developer interest in Omagh town centre, coupled with the anticipated release of substantial areas of former army lands, present exciting opportunities for the future of Omagh.

However, to maximise the benefit and sustainability of these prospects, it is essential that they are fully understood and planned carefully in relation to the existing town centre. As part of the proposals, Omagh’s High Street will be underpinned as the town’s principal shopping and leisure area, complemented in time with new development nearby. Its historic fabric of churches, narrow streets and barrack buildings such as the Courthouse will be conserved and revitalised to become a vibrant part of the town.

The potential of an educational campus at Lisanelly will be met by a dynamic area of the town centre focused on business and enterprise.

Campsie will be strengthened as an important town centre community, and new pedestrian bridges will help the riverside to play a central role in the life of Omagh as a place for recreation and leisure. However, in its conclusion, the masterplan document admits that realising Omagh’s regeneration opportunities will be a demanding process. It stated, “Achieving this vision will not be easy, with the many challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead. The current economic climate and changes to public administration are currently identified as two factors that will influence the way in which delivery can occur. “However, these must not be allowed to de-rail the critical process of successfully regenerating Omagh’s town centre. Proactive management, a close working relationship between stakeholder and a genuine, ongoing dialogue with residents hold the key to realising a dynamic and prosperous Omagh town centre.”

High Street/Market Street – The masterplan accepts that High Street and Market Street are Omagh’s most important streets and should remain so as the town develops into the future. It proposes that High Street/Market Street remains the focus of further investment to ensure that its shops and businesses are economically sustainable.

• Kevlin Avenue – Will complement High Street by providing new shops, restaurants and bars, new pedestrian streets and multi-storey carparking.
• Courthouse – It is proposed that the Courthouse frontage is reworked to make it more accessible to the public and visitors as a civic space at the top of High Street.
• Churches/St Lucia Area – The masterplan recognises the unique character of Omagh’s Churches area, and of the former barracks of St Lucia.
• To this end, it recommends building upon this unique character by developing the area as an ideal location for restaurants, cafes, bars, tourist attractions, small hotels and B&Bs. It also encourages the provision of cultural activities such as museums and galleries.
• Mountjoy Road – The masterplan highlights Mountjoy Road as becoming ‘an increasingly important area in Omagh’s future.’ It proposes that the area be focus for business and enterprise and is established as a tree-lined boulevard, to accommodate generous pedestrian footpaths, a cycle lane and cars.
• Bus Station – The proposed schools campus and potential relocation of a bus stop-over area could reduce the required size of the bus station area and allow for its potential redevelopment as an architecturally impressive arrival and departure point for Omagh.
• Campsie – The masterplan proposes that Campsie becomes a more defined community area to its residents and traders, and more of a specialist retail area to Omagh and its visitors.
• The area has the potential to become further integrated with the town, allowing town shoppers easier access to Campsie and the residents of the area to have easier use of the town centre.
• The River Strule – Within the concept, the Rivers Strule, Camowen and Drumragh will form an energised river core, linking together all areas of the town centre. The masterplan proposes that the river becomes the central focus of Omagh, with new buildings and spaces encouraged to front onto the river.

It states that the river should be seen as an amenity for locals and visitors to Omagh and as place to relax, spend time and play.