Before being able to develop its Integrated Local Strategy, The Bridge Partnership conducted a well-grounded community consultation exercise to enable many members of the public to express their views about the future development of the Banbridge District. Over 300 people attended a series of workshops and consultation events. Their ideas and contributions were drawn together into a draft plan that was presented to a round table workshop for review. Over 130 people representing over 40 community and statutory stakeholder organisations took part in this review. It was from this comprehensive consultation that nine strategic themes emerged as being important to the future development of the local area. These nine themes form the focus of The Bridge Partnership’s draft Integrated Local Strategy document. The Bridge Partnership has developed a strategy, objectives and action plan for each of these nine strategic themes.

These include:-

• Environment
• Agriculture and Rural Development
• Infrastructure and Planning
• Economic Development and Tourism
• Lifelong Learning
• Health and Community Well Being
• Arts, Culture, Leisure and Sport
• Community Development and Reconciliation
• Young People and Children