From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 20, 2000

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 20, 2000

16 September 2020

BALLYNAHINCH – An angry debate about future by-passes for Downpatrick and Ballynahinch took place during Down Council’s monthly meeting on Monday night.

After a proposal by Ballynahinch councillor, Mr Francis Casement, to push forward his local by-pass scheme, some councillors argued that it could not be given priority over a similar Downpatrick project.

However, Cllr Casement has called for an urgent economic assessment of the Ballynahinch project which has been in the pipeline for 30 years.

He said it was time for the Roads Service’s “blatant disregard” of Ballynahinch to be brought to an end, urging council to press for progress in the by-pass scheme.

The Roads Service this week contacted Mr. Casement advising him that an economic assessment he had recently requested was not currently available meaning further delays for the by-pass.

Mr Casement complained that too many other areas have been given consideration in preference of Ballynahinch.

A division emerged in the council chamber when Downpatrick councillor John Doris said he hoped Mr Casement’s motion would not be interpreted as meaning the Ballynahinch by-pass had priority over Downpatrick.

Mr Doris emphasised that the Downpatrick scheme was of equal importance to the Ballynahinch one.

STRANGFORD – The long-running campaign for a replacement vessel for the Strangford Lough ferry service is nearing an end.

The Department for Regional Development has awarded a £2.8 contract for a new vessel, which will be delivered within 12 months, to a Merseyside firm, McTay Marine.

The Liverpool firm beat off competition from Belfast shipbuilders Harland and Wolff, whose bid is believed to have been considerably more than McTay Marine’s offer.

The new vessel will replace the MV Strangford as the main ferry on the crossing, with the MV Strangford taking over as standby and support vessel.

It will be able to carry 260 passengers and crew and have a 28-car capacity. It will also be able to carry heavy goods vehicles of up to 15-metres long.

Announcing the development, Regional Development Minister, Mr Gregory Campbell, said the investment reflects the department’s commitment to ensuring the continuation of a safe and reliable service.

SAINTFIELD – Saintfield Library was the venue last week for a meeting to discuss the town’s increasing vandalism problem.

Local residents were joined by members of Saintfield Town Committee and senior Housing Executive, Down Lisburn Trust and Social Services officials to discuss ways of tackling the problem.

The meeting was called after a series of incidents in the town involving unruly youths and further talks are planned over the coming weeks.

Also in attendance was East Down Rural Community Network official, Deborah Boden, who confirmed she had been asked by residents living at the town’s Listooder Road area to facilitate a meeting to look at a series of issues in the town.

KILLYLEAGH – The campaign supporting the reopening of Killyleagh High School has been stepped up following a meeting between senior education officials and a local lobby group.

A petition including the signatures of 3,000 local people supporting the school’s opening was presented to education chiefs at Stormont last week.

The results of a questionnaire indicating 200 potential pupils for the school as also produced by the  chairman of the Friends of Killyleagh High School, Mr William Walker.

Mr Walker made an unequivocal demand for the gates of the school to reopen, urging officials to end the commuting nightmare currently faced by Killyleagh children.

“Our children are having to leave home at 7.30 am and are not returning until 5pm which is too long a day for them,” he said.

He added that the current over-crowding of Saintfield High School further backed their case for reopening.

CARRYDUFF – Major safety concerns almost thwarted plans to open the area’s newest integrated school in Carryduff earlier this month.

Organisers behind Millennium Integrated Primary School were forced to quit their Saintfield Road site just days before the official opening, following warnings from Roads Service officials that the entrance was too busy to allow safe access.

However, frantic behind the scenes efforts ensured a second building was found, enabling the primary to open on time at Breda Park outside Belfast.

Now in the third week of classes, the 10 founding pupils of Carryduff Millennium Integrated Primary School at Breda Park are said to be thriving in their new environment.

School principal, Mrs Mary Roulston, said she is enjoying her new position, and added that many activities have already been planned for the primary one children enrolled.

However, school officials consider the current building to be temporary, and said they hope to relocate to the Saintfield Road site as soon as the access can be made safe.

A road widening scheme at the site’s entrance, in accordance with Road Service’s demands, is expected to get underway as soon as funding is obtained.

DOWNPATRICK – The proposal for a new town centre manager to spearhead investment in Downpatrick is to be put to local traders.

Traders in the own are to be asked to attend a meeting to discuss the idea and the implications the move could have on the town over the coming years.

The idea has already been discussed by local politicians and while they have pledged to do everything they can to help, they have warned the move must have the support of the local business community.

In additional, politicians have also said traders must be prepared to put their hands in their pockets to help pave the way for Downpatrick’s first-ever town centre manager.

The meeting is expected to be held within the next few weeks and will be addressed by Barry Owens, the current town centre manager for Newry.

And while the initial focus is on Downpatrick, it is hoped the initiative will be extended to Newcastle and Ballynahinch to assist with their drive to regenerate their respective areas and attract key inward investment.

CLOUGH – Clough and District Community Association will hold its annual general meeting this Monday evening in the Old Schoolhouse.

Old and new members are invited to attend the event during which the proceeds of a recent fun day will be revealed.

During the meeting, plans for forthcoming events organised by the Association will be outlined plus a summary of event held earlier in the year.

New members will be made very welcome at the meeting, which is to commence at 8pm.

KILLINCHY – A Killinchy lady is one of four home milk delivery customers to feature in a new advertising campaign to be launched by the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland.

Valerie Mills and her cat, Pixie, will appear on poster sites across Northern Ireland, to promote the contribution home milk delivery can make to lifestyles, no matter who they are or where they live.

Valerie, explained: “As a trained home economist, I know that drinking milk every day is essential for healthy teeth and bones. I have a busy lifestyle and I am always on the go. Nothing sets me up better for the day than my breakfast accompanied by a glass of ice cold milk.”

She continued: I am not the only one in the house who would be lost without our milkman. My cat Pixie has an extra special cry when she wants her  milk and she is often waiting at the door in the morning.”

CROSSGAR – As part of the celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of St Colmcille’s High School in Crossgar, it is hoped to mount an exhibition of work by past pupils who are currently working in the art and design world.

The school would like to make every effort to contact as many past pupils as possible and anyone who has details of any artists should contact Gerry Rowan as soon as possible on 028 4483 0311.