From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 19, 1980

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 19, 1980

19 February 2020

KILLYLEAGH — A confident prediction that the Housing Executive will wipe out the waiting list for houses in Killyleagh within the next two years has been made by a senior Executive official.

The prediction came on Wednesday from the Executive’s regional controller, Mr Colin James, who addressed the annual meeting of Killyleagh Town Committee.

Mr James said he was confident that the waiting list which is at present in the sixties would be met without the Executive having to start any major new housing schemes in the area.

The completion of the Irish Street redevelopment scheme would bring another 40 houses and after this the Executive would probably wait 12 months to see what effect it had on the waiting list, Mr James explained.

He told the audience that the Executive intend to build 15 new houses in the Shore Street/Church Hill area, although this would be largely a redevelopment scheme.

“Demand for houses goes up and down like a yo-yo,” he said. “You can never be sure if you hit the right thing, but we are confident the figures for Killyleagh will just about balance.

And he added: “It is important in a time of economic recession and cutbacks that we are careful not build empty houses.”

Mr James had been invited to the meeting after local residents demanded a full rebate about the hold up of work on the Irish Street redevelopment scheme last year. But he skilfully side-stepped the issue, telling the audience that it would be “inopportune” to discuss the termination of the contract.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick detectives are investigating three more attacks on local schools by vandals.

De La Salle Secondary School was broken into and extensive damage caused to the interior on Wednesday, while Down High School was broken into over the weekend. Down High’s pavilion was also broken into. And last Monday several windows were smashed by vandals at St Patrick’s High School.

Police would welcome any information that could help put an end to the vandalism in local schools and ask anyone who sees anything suspicious in the vicinity of schools, particularly at the weekend, to contact them.

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch school’s new £250,000 extension is rapidly taking shape and hopes are high that it can be competed before the 1981 deadline.

The extension, which virtually doubles the size of St Patrick’s Primary School, is being constructed by the Downpatrick firm of Turley Brothers.

Work began on the major extension last May and it involves six new classrooms, an infant block which takes in four classrooms, a practical area, a new dining hall and kitchen, both self-catering, and an extension to the assembly hall.

At the moment the school uses six temporary classrooms, but these will be removed to extend the cramped playground space.

The school has increased in size over the last few years, making the extension necessary. Principal Brian Collins now has almost 350 on his roll books, with further applications likely over the next few years.

ARDGLASS — An Ardglass chemist who retired recently after half a century of service to the community was the guest of honour at a presentation function on Friday night. Mr Cecil Watts received a wall clock and a painting of the fishing port from local residents to mark his retirement.

Mr Watts would have been chemist in Ardglass 50 years next month and the presentation was made at the special night of entertainment in St Mary’s Hall by Miss Phil Wallace on behalf of the local residents.

Tributes were paid to Mr Watts’ enthusiasm and dedication — he had been a chemist for 62 years — and in his reply he thanked everyone for their kind remarks and the presentations he had received.

Entertainment was provided by members of the Women’s Institute choir, Hugh Curran and Dermot Magennis, with Paul Bignal the master of ceremonies.

Mr Watts and his wife were later entertained to lunch in the Ardglass Arms Hotel with local clergy, Dr Murphy and Dr Ritchie among the special guests.

The evening was organised by members of the festival committee.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Sandpipers, regarded as one of the top sand yachting clubs in the UK, could be hosting the 1982 European championships if everything goes to plan.

Mr Irvine Campbell, of the Newcastle club, brought the good news to club members after his visit to the International Federation of Sand and Land Yachting in Belgium.

The Sandpipers have already staged many big events, including the Irish open championships, but the possibility of staging the European championships would be a big feather in their hat.

Mr Campbell’s capacity as vice-president of the International Federation clearly played a part in the acceptance of Newcastle as a venue for the European championships.

The Sandpipers’ success in racing and organising hasn’t gone unnoticed and their staging of this weekend’s Irish open championships, sponsored by Smirnoff, will prove their capabilities yet again.

SAINTFIELD — The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rr Rev Dr William Craig, was a guest at the third annual conference of the Down Presbytery Ruling Elders Fellowship in 1st Saintfield Church on Saturday.

The conference was opened by the Rev James Lamont, Moderator of the Down Presbytery, and guest speakers included the Rev Martin Smyth and the Rev George Preston.

Evening tea was provided by the host congregation and the vice-president, Mr James Magowan, in a comprehensive vote of thanks, referred to the hospitality provided and the value content of the two speakers’ addresses, and they were pleased that the Moderator was able to be present.

Dr Craig thanked the president, Mr H Smyth, for the warmth of his welcome and the secretary, Mr Bill Keown, for his articulate preparations for the conference. He extended the greetings of the General Assembly and went on to deliver a most inspiring address.

Officers and members of the committee assisted the Moderator at the communion service which brought the conference to a close.

QUOILE — Concern has been expressed over the level of fish stocking in local lakes and rivers. And now the Department of Agriculture are to be asked to introduce an appropriate stocking programme for lakes and rivers under their control, particularly the Quoile river.

One member of the sports group has been in contact with the largest angling holiday making firm in Britain and he had indicated that he could bring a party of around 100 anglers to take part in a competition on the Quoile if the river was well stocked.

There have been a number of complaints alleging that stocking was not being carried out on a regular basis on lakes and rivers within the district.

CASTLEWELLAN — Castlewellan Library has been submitted as an entry for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors conservation award. It has been entered by the South Eastern Education and Library Board’s chief architect, who designed the tasteful scheme to convert the former Market House, which was re-opened as a library and community hall nearly a year ago.

GREYABBEY — Concern has been expressers this week by an Ards councillor about the delay over a scheme to provide a car park and coastal path in Greyabbey.

Councillor Lord Dunleath had been assured work on the scheme would begin last summer, but he fears the proposed developments could be shelved.

Lord Dunleath has ben told by the National Trust that the coastal path had been ped from the project because it “was not entirely in keeping with the natural beauty of this area of the Strangford Lough shore”.

The Trust also felt that the car park was not entirely acceptable and they suggested one or two alterations to the plan. The Trust now accepts that the car park plan, saying they hope it helps to reduce the “traffic hazard” on the coast road.