From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 29, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 29, 1993

27 September 2023

CROSSGAR – Thirty new jobs are on the cards at Crossgar Poultry Ltd, following the announcement late last night of a £1m plan to upgrade the factory.

The firm has just applied for planning permission to expand two buildings on its Kilmore Rod premises, to provide extra space for new machinery, offices and storage.

Announcing the expansion, Mr Paul Bell said the company, which makes chicken and turkey-based products, hoped to begin work in January to bring its whole operation under one roof.

He said it would take around 18 months to two years before all the new jobs would be created, and predicted needing up to 30 extra employees.

“The cutting and cooking are done in different unit from the value-added processes, such as battering and crumb coating,” said Mr Bell yesterday.

“There are units throughout the grounds in our original premises and newer buildings,” he continued. “”This will be a general upgrade and rationalisation.”

BALLYNAHINCH – A gang of arsonists are terrorising residents at a Ballynahinch housing estate.

Beleaguered Housing Executive tenants at Hillfoot Crescent are appealing for help following a series of incidents in which bins have been set on fire.

The attacks occurred at a block of maisonettes over three successive nights last weekend. During one of them, a major disaster was narrowly averted after electricity cables were badly scorched.

The blazes were put out thanks to the prompt action by local fire crews. The culprits, however, are unknown and police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

KILLYLEAGH – The Housing Executive has this week agreed to undertake a major technical survey on homes in Killyleagh’s Grove estate in a bid to quell fears about leaking fumes from fires.

The move follows a number of complaints made by residents in the area and claims that if the situation is not addressed soon, the Executive could have a major health hazard on its hands.

Residents say they have been dogged with problems with their chimneys for the past five years and claim their requests for help have fallen on deaf ears.

But this week, the Executive finally agreed to carry out the survey. “In a bid to allay residents’ fears, a major survey will be carried out and if there are any problems, steps will be taken to put things right,” said a spokesman.

ARDGLASS – Fishermen in Ardglass have been warned that a reduction in the number of days they put to sea is the only way stocks will recover and long-term employment secured.

The warning was delivered by Fisheries Minister Michael Jack during a whistle-stop tour of the village last week during which he was accompanied by the Province’s Agriculture minister, Lord Arran. 

Mr Jack, who also visited Portavogie and Kilkeel, said he was keen to listen to the views of local fishermen and to hear their views on whether or not the days at sea proposals could be modified to meet the industry’s concern.

The controversial decommissioning scheme which is set to reduce the UK fishing fleet by 2.5 per cent, has resulted in 28 applications from fishermen throughout the Province.

One skipper in Ardglass has applied to have his vessel taken out of service, along with nine in Kilkeel and 18 in Portavogie.

“The pressure on fish stocks has meant that European Community wide action was needed to strike a realistic balance between what is needed to conserve fish stocks and the catching capacity of the UK fishing fleet.

DOWNPATRICK – Local police chiefs have this week been accused of failing to take enough positive action to stop solvent abuse at the lower English Street area of Downpatrick.

Last week, damage estimated at £1,000 was caused in the area when an extractor fan at the rear of the Bon Appetite Chinese restaurant was ripped off an outside wall and a railing was pulled from its mounting beside offices belonging to the Citizens Advice Bureau.

And while police believe that the incidents are not directly related to solvent abuse, local CAB officials are not so sure.

Christina Patton, one of the bureau’s deputy managers, said a number of young people have been buying lighter fuel from a local shop and sniffing it outside her office.

“They hide the fuel up their sleeve and think that nobody can see what they are up to,” she explained. “Since we moved into these offices around a year ago we have been plagued by vandals.

“We have had windows and doors smashed and have even had telephones ripped out of their sockets. The situation is almost unbearable and police appear uninterested in what is going on.”

BISHOPSCOURT – A group of mothers in Bishopscourt have this week been praised for taking the initiative to do something positive for the children in the area by providing a much-needed playgroup facility.

The mothers, who live in homes formerly owned by RAF personnel, have already received the backing of Down Council’s community relations department, local councillors and businessmen.

The owners of he nearby race circuit have also given their support and over £300 was raised during a recent motorcycle meeting.

Mrs Mary Fitzsimons, whose initial idea it was to transform one of the former Ministry of Defence buildings into a playgroup area, has also received the backing of NIPPA – the Northern Ireland Pre-School Playgroup Association.

They hope to have the playgroup operational as soon as possible and have revealed that two jobs will be created as a result of their initiative. 

“At present, young children in the area have nowhere to play when the weather is bad. A number of us got together recently and decided to form an action committee to get things moving in the area and have been delighted with the response,” she explained.

SAINTFIELD – Saintfield motorcyclist Andrew Miller is revving up for the finals of the first national Shell Suzuki BMF Young Rider of the Year contest.

Eighteen year-old Andrew will be joined by six other young riders for the finals at Loughborough University on Saturday.

Andrew won through to the final after being placed first at the recent Northern Ireland regional final in Belfast.

CARRYDUFF –  Carryduff’s new £200,000 fire station at the village’s Comber Road has been officially opened by Northern Ireland Fire Brigade chairman, Mr David Connolly.

The purpose-built station houses one fire appliance and is similar in design to another new nation which was opening recently in Ballywalter.

Recruitment for the proposed new station began in March last year when employers of potential recruits and community leaders were invited to a public meeting in the village’s primary school to discuss the Brigade’s proposals.

PORTAFERRY – The changing face of Portaferry over the coming months will provide a new impetus for the village and lead to increased employment opportunities.

On Monday, the contract to transform a former Queen’s University building at the shorefront into a major accommodation complex was officially signed, marking the start of work on Portaferry’s £2m regeneration scheme. 

The initiative is being backed by the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of the Environment and both agencies have played a significant role in helping to get the scheme off the ground.

Over the coming months, two other main projects will be undertaken in the village.