|
 Toome
is a modern village with a selection
of various businesses, which take
care of all people's needs situated
on the northeast corner of Lough
Neagh. It is the crossroads between
the main road from Belfast to the
North West and the Lower Bann.
Its strategic position has made
it an important place throughout
history, with it being an area
rich in flora and fauna with Lough
Beg to the North and Lough Neagh
to the South.
The
largest industry within Toome is
eel fishing, which supplies the continental
market. The eels come from the Sargaasa
Sea in the Atlantic Ocean to Lough
Neagh to mate. They have been fished
at Toome every since the first people
arrived. Artefacts that have been
discovered have proven that Toome
has been populated from before the
sixth century.
Within
the last century the mining for diatomite
has developed. This mineral was used
as an absorbent for gelignite and
for toothpaste. This industry helped
boost the local economy especially
during the two world wars when employment
in the area was almost non-existent.
TIDAL
Ltd.
 TIDAL was created as the successor to the previous group TIDE (Toome Industrial
Development Enterprises) that was formed in June 1994 with twelve members,
under the Chairmanship of Cahal McAteer.
From
the outset the Group identified the
economic regeneration of their area
as the primary objective. If the
area was in a better position economically
then social development would follow.
It was discovered that three areas
of regeneration had strong support
- Business
Development
- Tourism
- Environmental
Improvements
The
Toome Area Development Plan was produced
in 1999 under the terms of reference,
which demanded that it be consistent
with the strategy for the wider Antrim
Borough.
TIDE
changed its name to TIDAL (Toome
Industrial Development, amenities & Leisure
regeneration group) and sub-groups
were formed to cover the areas of:
- Industry
- Tourism
- Environmental
Improvements
- Toome
House - the proposed social and
commercial centre
The
Ten Year Plan industry was highlighted
as a development necessity in the
Toome area. A detailed economic appraisal
and business plan was carried out
which highlighted the need for re-zoning
in order to facilitate industrial
development. The environmental improvements
and the tourism schemes are both
dependant on the by-pass, which is
to be built around the village of
Toome.
This
project has full community support
and when completed will give the
people of the village a more vibrant
social life as the traffic has been
a severe hindrance to them over the
last number of years. TIDAL have
also been responsible for attracting
funds to the area for an After Schools
Project, which is now under way and
very successful. The main aim of
the project is to allow women to
return to education or to work.
Toome
House
This
is the 12,000 square foot social
and commercial centre in the heart
of the village of Toome which is
funded by the DoE / IFI and Antrim
Borough Council. Toome House offers
a number of services currently missing
in the village of Toome. The group
are currently running computer training
courses in their IT suite, which
is funded by Antrim Borough Partnership.
They are also in the process of opening
a full day care nursery in the village,
which is the first of its kind in
the area. Antrim Borough Partnership
funded the capital costs for this
project with financial assistance
in the form of wages being provided
by the Childhood Fund.
TIDAL's
has a positive approach to regeneration
and their success is down to the
commitment and experience of the
team. They represent all the needs
in the community and are keen to
see development. They hope to physically,
economically and socially regenerate
the village of Toome. |
