We Asked, You Said, We Did

Public Consultation: Draft Heritage Strategy:

As part of the development of the Heritage Strategy, we wanted to hear the voices of our communities, regional stakeholders, industry professionals and all parties interested in heritage within the ABC Borough.

Between 22^nd December 2025 and 16^th March 2026, we asked a number of key questions to assess whether the draft Heritage Strategy addressed the key priorities of heritage within the ABC Borough, if the vision, objectives and themes were achievable, relevant and enhance heritage in the borough.

We received 109 responses, offering deep insights into this co-created strategy and helped developed the next phase of the Heritage Places Project.

Who Took Part?
65% of respondents were residents of the borough, showing strong personal interest and 17% responded on behalf of an organisation, project, or group. A large majority of respondents were from the BT60 area postcode with BT32 closely following. 

Summary of Key Findings:

• 69% of respondents agreed that the draft Heritage Strategy reflected their views on what the priorities for heritage should be in the next ten years in the ABC Borough
• 70% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the proposed vision is achievable and reflective of heritage needs within the Borough.
• 64% of respondents felt that the document was easy or very easy to read.
• 79% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the objectives are relevant and capable of enhancing heritage in the Borough.
• 80% agreed that the proposed actions in theme Establish & Advocate would contribute to positive change in the ABC Borough.
• 81% agreed that the proposed actions in theme Protect & Invest would contribute to positive change in the ABC Borough.
• 83% agreed that the proposed actions in theme Engage & Support would contribute to positive change in the ABC Borough.

"Organisations need simple, straightforward support to navigate all the endless hurdles on projects- a focused easily contactable, responsive team that is proactive in their support”.

"It's an ambitious vision. The proposed strategy moves in the right direction"

We considered all suggestions, ideas and thoughts and used your feedback to help inform and shape the final version of the Heritage Strategy.

We hope to launch the Heritage Strategy for the ABC Borough in late spring/early summer 2026.

We asked for your thoughts and opinions as to your experiences at the Armagh Georgian Festival. 

We received a wealth of feedback and thoughts from those who attended the events. This information is gratefully appreciated and will help with future plans. 

Survey feedback has been collated and will be reviewed for planning the 2026 events. A winner has also been picked in relation to the ABC giftcard and has been notified, pending receipt of voucher. We appreciate your time and consideration - thank you. 

We asked for your thoughts and opinions in relation ot the Halloweeh Ghost Tours 2025. 

The responses received were overwhelming positive with enthusiasm for the event. 

The results have been compiled into a report for internal review which will assist with 2026 programme. 

For your thoughts and opinions after attending the Dining in the Dark event. 

The rsesponses were very positive in relation to the event theme, promotion and delivery. 

The information and feedback received has been compiled into a report and will be used to assist with planning for 2026. We thank you for your time. 

For your thoughts and opinions on the Armagh City Summer Walking and Archbishop's Palace Walking Tours. 

Visitors provided a lot of useful and considered feedback relating to the tours, content and more. 

This information has been collated and will be reviewed in advance of the 2026 season. We thank you for your thoughts. 

We asked for your opinions relating to the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend 2025. 

Those who completed the survey provided a wealth of opinion relating to the weekend as a whole. These responses have been combined into a review document and will be considered in the whole when planning for 2026. 

The detailed responses provided by the contributers have been combined into a review document and will be considered in the whole when planning for 2026. We thank you for your time and consideration in providing feedback. 

What were your thoughts about the 7 Hills Blues Festival 2025?

Survey respondees provided a wealth of feedback which will provide useful in future planning. This included comments on performance scheduling, hospitality set up, range of musicians and more. 

7 Hills Blues Festival ran successfully at the beginning of August 2025. From feedback received, several areas for improvement were highlighted by visitors and these will be considered in future planning. We appreciate the views and time given by those who completed the survey. 

For your opinions on Buskfest 2025 as an event.

You provided a wealth of feedback which will help to shape our 2026 plans. 

Buskfest 2025 was largely successful in creating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for performers, visitors, and local businesses. However, several areas for improvement were identified across all stakeholder groups and these will be considerered and added to planning for 2026 and beyond. 

The survey asked users to provide feedback on:

1. Which facility they use
2. Who they are as a user
3. Satisfaction with facilities & activities
4. Satisfaction with staff
5. Satisfaction with building condition
6. Demand for new activities or facilities
7. Any additional comments or suggestions

1. About the Facilities They Use

Respondents most frequently referenced Brownstown Community Centre, followed by Lurgan Town Hall, Tommy Makem Arts Centre, and Brownlow Hub. This shows where demand and engagement are highest.

2. Who They Are as Users

They told us they represent a mix of user groups:

• The biggest share were class/workshop/event attendees (50%)
• Followed by local residents, community group members, and senior citizens
  This shows diverse user engagement across facilities. 

3. Satisfaction With Facilities & Activities

You said:

• Toilets and value for money scored highest satisfaction.
• Equipment quality and parking were the biggest issues.
• Some weren’t aware of disability access features (20%+ “don’t know”).
• Dissatisfaction comments focused on outdated equipment, limited parking, booking difficulties, and lack of some activities.

4. Satisfaction With Council Staff

You said staff are a strong positive, with high satisfaction in:

• Helpfulness
• Availability
• Praise for named staff 
• Some noted limited staff presence at peak times 

5. Satisfaction With Buildings

You said:

• Heating and internal cleanliness are strong points.
• The weakest areas were general appearance and outside cleanliness.

6. Activities & Facilities they Want

You said:

• Most respondents (75%) did not require new activities, but those who did provided detailed suggestions.
• Requested activities included:
  • Youth programmes (tech, social, safety)
  • Fitness classes (yoga, bootcamp, Slimming World)
  • Arts/culture
  • Baby & toddler sessions
  • Cooking classe

7. Additional Comments

You said:

• Staff were praised frequently.
• Concerns focused on parking, equipment, maintenance, and poor advertising/promotion of activities.

1. Improvements to Equipment, Parking & Access

We did:

• Began a full equipment audit across all centres to prioritise repairs and replacements.
• Started a parking pressure review at the busiest sites (including Brownstown and Lurgan Town Hall) to identify capacity and alternative parking.

2. Programme Development & Activity Expansion

We did:

• Identified priority programme themes (wellbeing, youth, family, arts) based on survey demand through Community Wellbeing Programme.
• Initiated planning for pilot programmes in the most active centres (Socialise & Energies Programme).

3. Enhancements to Staff Availability & Customer Experience

We did:

• Shared positive feedback with staff teams to reinforce good practice, particularly at sites where individuals were specifically named and praised.
• Identified centres where additional training or support could further enhance customer experience.

4. Building Maintenance & Cleanliness Improvements

We did:

• Logged and prioritised maintenance tasks for key sites
• Reviewed external cleaning schedules to address dissatisfaction with outside cleanliness.

As part of the Home of St Patrick Festival we asked for your thoughts and opinions in relation to a variety of areas including the overall programme, opportunities for improvement and other considerations. 

From the responses provided,The Home of St Patrick Festival received positive feedback for its inclusivity and variety of events, catering to diverse audiences. Many attendees highlighted the enjoyable atmosphere, excellent music, and well-organized activities.

The information has now been compiled and will be reviewed by the Events Team in relation to preparations for the 2026 programme and beyond. 

Heritage Places Survey Summary

Between October 14 and December 20, 2024, we conducted a borough-wide survey to understand what heritage means to people in Armagh, Banbridge, and Craigavon Borough. We received an incredible 217 responses, offering deep insights into the community’s connection with heritage and their hopes for its future. 

Who Took Part?
90.32% of respondents were individuals, showing strong personal interest and 8.29% responded on behalf of an organisation, project, or group.

How Important is Heritage?
An overwhelming 89.4% of respondents said heritage is very important/ important to them. This reflects a strong cultural pride and a desire to protect and celebrate the borough’s unique history.

What Aspects of Heritage Matter Most?
Respondents ranked the most important elements of heritage, with the highest priorities being:
1.    Landscapes & Natural Spaces (95.86%)
2.    History (95.85%)
3.    Historic Buildings (94.47%)
4.    Traditions & Practices (93.09%)
5.    Craft Skills & People (91.71%)
6.    Arts & Culture (91.7%)
7.    Nature & Biodiversity (91.25%)
8.    Archaeology & Local Stories (89.4%)
9.    Music (88.02%)
10.    Food & Drink (84.34%)
11.    Celebrating Diverse Heritage (82.95%)
12.    Sporting Heritage (73.74%)
13.    Language (71.43%)

We are continue to progress with the results of this survey and are taking the feedback on board. We will endeavour to include this feedback into our future plans. 

In order to gain feedback on the Armagh Georgian Festival, a survey link was forwarded to all those who booked tickets for the relevant events. This was also shared on social media channels to encourage those who attended e.g. the markets or other unticketed events to provide their thoughts. 

From the reponses, we learnt that two-thirds of respondents were first time visitors to the Festival indicating the attractiveness of the programme to new markets.

The findings indicate that support and endorsement of the Festival remains at an extremely high level with a significant return on investment.

In particular, efforts to enhance accessibility, inclusion and sustainability continue apace. We will continue to consider all feedback and incorporate where appropriate into plans for 2025 and beyond. 

We asked for views on the effectiveness of the current toilet provision in Portadown

A total of 320 survey responses were received during the consultation period. The vast majority of those responding were residents of the Council area.

The consultation feedback has been taken on board and has been used to update the specification for the town centre toilet contract which is due for renewal ahead of the new financial year

The findings of this survey have helped inform the new procurement exercise for the provision of public toilets in Portadown Town Centre.

In order to gain feedback on the Armagh Food and Cider Weekend, a survey link was forwarded to all those who booked tickets for the relevant events. This was also shared on social media channels to encourage those who attended e.g. the markets or other unticketed events to provide their thoughts. 

There was strong endorsement of all aspects of the events. The atmosphere, settings/surroundings together with the quality of customer service and food and drink on offer were accorded particularly robust ratings.

 Opportunities to expand the range and variety of stalls was however noted together with requests for additional seating / table provision at the Cider in the City market in particular. These along with similar comments will be reviewed and considered for planning for 2025 and beyond. 

Question 1: Are you happy with the opening hours? 

Question 2 : Are you happy with the cleanliness of the facilities? 

Question 3: Are you happy with the condition of the sanitary ware in the facilities? 

Question 4: Are you happy for the provision for ALL user groups? 

Question 5: Are you happy with the location of the facilities?

Answer 1: 73% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the opening hours, however, 15% were dissatisfied and 12% were very dissatisfied.

Answer 2: 58% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the cleanliness of the facilities, however, 23% were dissatisfied and 18% were very dissatisfied.

Answer 3: 50% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the condition of the sanitary ware in the facilities, however, 32% were dissatisfied and 18% were very dissatisfied.

Answer 4: 56% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the provision for ALL user groups, however, 26% were dissatisfied and 19% were very dissatisfied.

Answer 5: 79% of respondents said that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the location of the facilities, however 14% were dissatisfied and 7% were very dissatisfied.

As a result of this we plan to:

• Develop a budgeted schedule of future planned maintenance works.  
• Investigate the possibility of starting a Community Toilet Scheme.
• Continue to explore new ways of working, innovation and technologies to support customers needs and expectations of a modern, efficient and streamlined service.  
• Conduct regular reviews of the toilet facilities across the Borough.