The signature project is a bold and visionary statement that will connect the city of yesteryear with the Belfast that all of us are building for tomorrow.

The failure to win through to the next round of the Big Lottery's Living Landmarks programme, worth £25 million, will doubtless deflate the many people who have toiled so valiantly to get the project to where it is today.

However, key stakeholders like Nigel Dodds, Brian Ambrose and Mike Smyth struck the right note this morning when they pledged to re-double efforts to get the Titanic scheme back on track.

The Connswater Community Greenway is a fine project that will bring a much-needed transformation to a neglected part of east Belfast. Now that it is through to the cut for Big Lottery funding, it would be wonderful for it to succeed.

However, the Titanic Signature Project will bring benefits to everyone in Northern Ireland because of its tourism, economic and civic potential.

An important battle to bring it to life has been lost. But the war is not over and no-one should give up on it yet.