From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 5, 1994

From the pages of the Down Recorder, October 5, 1994

2 October 2024

ARDGLASS – A metal fence around the former controlled primary school in Ardglass was turned into a death trap for several hours last week by a gang of thugs.

The lives of young children and other pedestrians in the area were put at “serious risk” by vandals as they walked past the Downpatrick Road school, which closed a number of years ago.

Unknown to young children and their mothers on their way to St Nicholas’ Primary School last Thursday morning, over 230 volts of electricity was surging through the fence.

Hours earlier, a gang of thugs had thrown a metal window frame at overhead cables and ran off. The highly dangerous wires burnt through and one of them fell to the ground, touching the fence which surrounds the school.

A lethal forcefield was thrown around the entire area and Northern Ireland Electricity chiefs say that if anyone had touched the fence, they would have been killed.

Local NIE manager, Mr Alex McCrea, said the incident was reported to local engineers just after 11.30 am last Thursday morning.

“The area around the school was isolated shortly before midday and the cables were repaired and power restored just after 1pm,” he said.

BISHOPSCOURT – This Saturday’s international motorcycle race at Bishopscourt will be going ahead as planned, the owners  of the circuit have confirmed.

The news comes after Department of Environment officials reportedly served a stop notice on the track’s owners, banning all activity at the former RAF base.

The notice is believed to cover this weekend’s prestigious event, but both Mr David Beattie and Mr John Giffin say racing will be going ahead as planned.

And they have rejected claims that they have breached planning regulations which were set out following the public inquiry held earlier this year.

The owners of the circuit, the longest of its kind in Ireland, are angry that the accusations have been  made so close to the first Sunflower meeting to be held at the track.

This Saturday, the cream of Europe’s top motorcycle aces will be at Bishopscourt, when a crowd of around 10,000 is expected to attend the event.

KILLYLEAGH – Negotiations to develop a major youth centre in Killyleagh are at a delicate stage, it has been revealed.

The centre, which is expected to provide facilities for young people from all over Northern Ireland, will be based on the site of the town’s former high school at Shore Road.

South Eastern Education and Library Board officials have been locked in discussions with potential investors for some time, but a definite decision is not expected until next month.

Among those expressing an interest is the charitable trust, Rayne Foundation, which assists with large youth projects.

A trust representative, who has already visited the site, along with Board officials, is expected to confirm next month whether or not it is interested in backing the ambitious scheme.

DOWNPATRICK – Department of Environment chiefs have confirmed that the long-awaited public inquiry into Downpatrick’s £1.7m link road will take place on December 6.

The inquiry will be held at the Down Leisure Centre and is expected to last several days and the news is set to be welcomed by local councillors who are keen to see the project getting underway as soon as possible.

Mr Brian Banks has been appointed as the Inspector and will make a final report to the Department, probably well into the New Year after he has heard all the evidence.

The inquiry begins at 10.30 am on December 6, but the Department is taking the unusual step of holding a pre-inquiry meeting several weeks earlier.

Down Leisure Centre will again be the venue on November 15 at 7.30 pm when the procedures for the inquiry will be discussed and an agreed format.

CROSSGAR – Members of the Crossgar Community Association are to draw up a shortlist of groups which they hope will provide them with cash to help upgrade the village’s War Memorial Hall.

Discussions about the future use of the hall and major upgrading work took place last Tuesday night and the two sub-committees involved in the restoration programme are hopeful of winning a few friends in the corridors of power.

Down Council has pledge its support for the restoration programme, but it will not be able to provide all of the finance which is required to restore the hall to its former glory.

The Rural Development Council, which recently provided the Ardglass Development Association  with a major cash injection to help the development of the new marina project, is to be targeted.

The cross-community venture has received across-the-board support in the village and the people behind the project are confident they will secure the money they need to proceed.

BALLYGOWAN – An urgent call has been made to the DoE to provide a pedestrian crossing in Ballygowan, following a serious road accident in the village at the weekend.

An elderly woman was knocked down by a skip lorry on the Belfast Road around 4pm on Friday afternoon.

The 74 year-old villager, who was dragged along the road, receive severe leg injuries and was rushed to the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald, where she is said to be “ill, but comfortable”.

But the latest accident has angered local residents who have been campaigning for several years to make the village a safer place.

Their main concern is the speed of cars entering the village from the Belfast side, but DoE road chiefs have refused to erect a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights, claiming there is not enough traffic to warrant any changes.

One of the organisers, Mrs Jean Jameson, has branded the DoE’s attitude as “shameful” and said something had to be done immediately before anyone else was serious injured or even killed.

QUOILE – One of the finest bird-watching hides in Ireland has been opened on the banks of the Quoile national nature reserve.

Octagonally shaped, with a gently pitched grassy turf roof, it sits discreetly among the reed beds by the river bank and further screening is to be provided by willows.

Five of the sides have shuttered slots, giving visitors a panoramic view of the extensive lower pondage area.

Costing around £60,000, the hide stands above potential flood levels on steel legs, supported by a concrete raft. Access is by wide walkways, doors and a lobby area to help disabled people on wheelchairs.

CARRYDUFF – A Co Down firm has won the Northern Ireland Small Business of the Year competition and has qualified for the national finals to be held in London on October 26.

Carryduff-based Lowe Refrigeration Company is run by brothers Gerry and Michael Lowe, and was set up in 1977 to deal in local sales and distribution.

The business now has offices in Britain, Europe, America and Asia, servicing any worldwide market. New markets for quality used equipment have also been set up in China, Eastern Europe, Russia and Malaysia.

KILLINCHY – The problems of every day living can often become too much and ways are needed to help cope with stress.

A newly established business in Killinchy is providing an antidote to today’s stressful lifestyles.

Redundancy, marital difficulties, anxiety, phobias and lack of confidence are just some of the problems dealt with by Janette Stewart in her practice at 36 Whiterock Road.

According to Janette, it encourages growth and development.