From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 21, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 21, 1977

21 June 2017

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch man has accused health and building authorities of operating a cover-up to disguise a building defect in his home which he says they will not recognise in spite of contrary evidence.

Mr Gerry Rice, who lives at 56 Carlisle Park with his wife and nine children, says his family runs a daily health risk in their home because of the regular infiltration of smoke and dangerous fumes from the next door dwelling.

The smoke, he says, is caused by a lack of flue liners in his home and in the chimneys of the other three houses in the block. While the authorities agree that the Rices have a problem with smoke, he says they will not attribute it to the lack of flue liners.

Mr Rice believes he has only July and August to get rid of the smoke problem once and for all since his neighbours will begin to light fires once the colder weather comes in and the smoke problem will once more menace his home.

If the situation has not improved by then, Mr Rice says he will lock up his home and camp out with his family in a mobile near his garage.

“I have two months before people starting lighting their fires. Why should I make the people next door suffer for the mistakes made by the authorities?”

Mr Rice has also prepared a file detailing his case which he intends sending into the BBC consumer programme That’s Life in a final effort to get someone to give him a helping hand.

CROSSGAR — An effort to improve the appearance of Crossgar is in progress with the annual Best Kept Town Week receiving much support from residents.

Organised by Crossgar and District Community Association, the event includes competitions for the tidiest garden, the best dressed shop window and a local art and craft competition which includes model making, painting, embroidery and flower arranging.

Schoolchildren are playing a big part. The very young children have been asked to paint a picture of where they live, others are working on summertime projects and older children are taking part in a quiz and slogan competition.

DOWNPATRICK — A Downpatrick dentist’s plans to turn his home into a much-needed hotel on the banks of the Quoile river has received a firm thumbs down from the planners — and the decision has sparked off a wave of protest.

The application was by Mr D B Riordan, who lives at Strangford Road and who planned to build a new house for himself and open his old home to tourists.

However, the planning authorities claim that the new hotel would be “prejudicial to the visual amenities of the area and to the enjoyment by neighbouring occupiers of their properties.”

A spokesman pointed out that 25 people living in the area had signed a petition objecting to the plan and a further six sent letters of protest. But angry Down councillors have lashed the decision as “ludicrous” and they have asked the planning department to think again.

KILLYLEAGH — The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award has been presented to a young Killyleagh girl who completed the programme from an electric wheelchair to which she is confined.

Sixteen year-old Denise Withers, from 54 Shore Street, received her medal from Lord Melchett at an informal ceremony in Stormont House, Belfast.

Denise undertook her award programme whilst a pupil at Mitchell House School where handicapped pupils were taking part in the scheme. Her most difficult section was the expedition for which organised, mapped and directed a bus outing for her school friends.

SAINTFIELD — The sun shone long and hot on the 33rd Saintfield Agricutural Show which spread over two fields at Ballycloughan on Saturday.

The show president, Dr J M McKelvey, and the show manager, Mr R J Morrow, must be well pleased that it merited their numerous fundraising efforts during the past year.

In all there were 2,000 exhibits at the show, which was held over 26 acres of rolling green countryside, owned by Mr Moore Dodds and Mr Tom Young.

The show secretary, Mr John Beck, said: “Saintfield Show succeeds because it is situated in the centre of the agricultural community around Saintfield and takes place on one day each year. The social atmosphere at the show and throughout the year all add up to make it a big success.”

PORTAFERRY — The final stage in the long battle to provide a new public park and woodland walkway in Portaferry got underway in Newtownards when a public inquiry heard arguments in favour of the scheme.

The central feature of the site will be the Castle Gardens and it will also include a woodland walk from Church Street to the Walter Meadow. All this ground was open to the public up until 20 years ago when it seas closed off by the trustees of the Nugent Estate.

Remarkably, no-one appeared for the trustees of the Nugent Estate at the inquiry. A legal representative turned up briefly and asked for an adjournment. When this application was refused he walked out.

If, as now seems likely, the inquiry gives a favourable decision, Portaferry’s new woodland park could be open inside the next three months.

CASTLEWELLAN — The newly formed Castlewellan Festival Committee have drawn up a comprehensive programme of festivities and entertainment events for the town’s community festival, which will run from July 14-17.

All festivals must have a queen and the queen will be chosen at a festival dance to be held on July 5 at a venue still to be chosen. The committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Tom Bingham, hope that everyone in the community will participate in the enjoyment of the festival.

ARDGLASS — St Nicholas’ Conference of the St Vincent De Paul Society, Ardglass, celebrated their golden jubilee on Sunday. A special mass was given in St Nicholas’ Church at 7pm, which was followed by a well arranged meal and social evening in St Mary’s Hall.

Mr Pat Irvine, president of the Ardglass branch, welcomed the special guests, Mr Mulligan, president of the central council, and Mr Barney Laverty, the area president. Representatives from Killyleagh, Dunsford, Legamaddy, Ballykinlar and Downpatrick were also present.

KILLOUGH — A building contractor’s plans to build holiday homes in Killough have been rejected by the planners because they thought he wanted to open a caravan site.

The strange mix-up occurred over an application from Mr James Lilley, of Ballygowan Road, Hillsborough, who had hoped to build a dozen timber framed homes and then sell them. Somehow his application was interpreted as being for a caravan site and planning permission was refused.

A surprised and very disappointed Mr Lilley said he couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.

“I wasn’t interested in a caravan site at all. What I had in mind was a structural type of holiday home similar to those in Co Fermanagh, a little get-away-from-it-all holiday village.

“Killough is a beautiful village with easy access to Ardglass and Newcatle and I wanted to build a high class holiday area which would have been completely private.

DRUMANESS — More than 50 senior citizens from Drumaness were taken for an outing on Saturday afternoon. The outing was organised by the six-strong Drumaness Ladies’ Social Club, consisting of Mrs Mary Cranston, Mrs Bernie Gallagher, Miss Heather Cranston, Mrs Angela Sloan, Mrs Mary Rice and Mrs Anne Smyth.

SAUL — Saul GFC’s annual sports day on Sunday was well supported with big entries and big crowds in attendance. The children’s races started off the afternoon and these were followed by the married men’s and married women’s races.

Throughout the afternoon Saul Accordeon Band kept the crowd in a happy mood with their rendering of tunes. The day was rounded off with a dance in Ballycruttle Hall where music was by the Silver Dollar Band.