From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 3, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 3, 1975

3 June 2015

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick houses for Downpatrick people — that is the message from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive who are trying to allay fears over housing allocation.

Rumours were rife that a redevelopment programme in Belfast’s Short Strand area was linked to a housing programme at the Model Farm on the outskirts of the town.

Not only have they denied this, but pointed out that the redevelopment of the city area has run into problems and is unlikely to start for some time due to the necessity for further vesting and a public inquiry.

They have confirmed though that there are three categories of people from Belfast who may be housed in Downpatrick — those on the emergency list who have been intimated out of their homes through the civil disturbances; those from the redevelopment areas; and those who are deemed “key workers.”

It was cited that there are emote than 3,000 people from East Belfast who want to move from the area, yet less than 100 of these want to move to the Executive’s Newry area, which includes such places as Dromore, Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Downpatrick and Newcastle.

The Executive states that Downpatrick people have a ten-point advantage over Belfast residents before other points for things like sharing a house or lack of amenities are taken into consideration.

KILMORE — The old Kilmore Parish Church is shortly to find a new home, but, sadly, it will be a home without a minister or a congregation. For the church is the latest addition to the Ulster Folk Museum’s reconstruction of a typical Irish country village in its outdoor park at Cultra.

The old church, which dates back to 1790, has not been used for the purpose it was created for more than 100 years, although it stands in the parish graveyard. It was used as a school up to the turn of the century and then as a parochial hall for a short period, but the building has stood idle for some time.

NEWCASTLE — A two-ton anchor, believed to be from the SS Great Britain, was ‘arrested’ by troops acting on behalf of the Receiver of Wrecks less than an hour after being winched from Newcastle harbour.

Shocked town committee officials, who had organised the operation to lift the anchor from the water and put it on display, watched in disbelief as it was taken to its ‘cell’ in the grounds of Newcastle police station, where it will stay until the Receiver traces its owner. Only then will it be released.

Town committee members and the tourist and recreation department of Down Counil had originally planned to display the anchor on South Promenade facing Mourne House. The anchor was found a fortnight ago in Dundrum Bay — where the Great Britain ran aground in 1846 — and brought to the harbour by local fishermen.

Research work is still in progress and it may be some time before we know whether or not the anchor did belong to the ship.

CASTLEWELLAN — The committee in Castlewellan is to ask the Department of the Environment for permission to tap water from nearby Lough Island Reavy because of a shortage of water to deal with fires.

Water from the lakes flows through Castlewellan to give Belfast a supply of four million gallons a day. The committee claims there is not enough water available locally to deal with a big fire, should one break out in the town.

WHITEROCK — Approved plans to provide a small, old-fashioned roadhouse establishment at Sketrick Island, beside Whiterock on the shores of Strangford Lough, have run into trouble at the county court.

Opposition to an application for a full licence to replace an existing off sales licence came from 14 residents of the island and the minister of Killinchy Presbyterian Church. The hearing lasted most of a day at Newtownards and will resume later in the month.

Dr. Balfour Rowan Branwell, who owns the 35-acre island and runs a farm there, has been granted planning permission to convert part on an old-established farmhouse into a “very English” roadhouse catering for the more settled members of the community and the many people who spend their weekends on boats there.

For more than a year Dr. Bramwell has run an off sales business there and Judge James Brown was told that never once has any opposition to the running of this business or to proposals been made known to the police or the planning authority.

ANNACLOY — A young couple, soon to be married, may have had their plans for a home saved from a death at the hands of the planners by the actions of four Down councillors.

The man had submitted plans for a bungalow at Cargagh, Annacloy, to the divisional office of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning. The Department, however, refused his application on the grounds that the proposed development was in an area where there should be no material change in the land use and that it would be prejudicial to the area’s rural character and inconsistent with planning policy.

Now, due to the lobbying of councillors Sean Quinn, Cecil Maxwell, P. J. Smyth and W. J. Cochrane, the man is to be given an interview with the Divisional Planning Officer, Mr. John Parsons.

CROSSGAR — The Crossgar Wombles will be out in force this month if the local community association get their way. For June 23-30 is the village’s annual Tidy Week and although it is doubtful that one of the furry creatures will be spotted, the people of Crossgar, and the children in particular, should live up to the Wombles creed and help clean the place up.

The aim of the week is simple — to make Crossgar the tidiest village in Northern Ireland. Preparations for the week have already started with leaflets going out to every household within three miles of the village.The secretary, Mrs. Pat Bell, has been kept busy co-ordinating what has virtually become a community effort. Help has flow din from many different directions and prizes have been offered to the best kept garden, the best shop window display and children have special prizes to compete for in competitions organised by their schools.

The shops display has been thought up by the chairman, Mr. W. J. Cochrane, helped by Mr. Tom Hewitt. Altogether nine schools are taking part in activities which include a colouring competition.

LOUGHBRICKLAND — South Down MP, Mr. Enoch Powell, has bought himself a home in the constituency. His new home is thought to be in Loughbrickland, although Mr. Powell would not comment any further than to say it was in the Banbridge area.

CARRYDUFF — Three armed men made off with £68 in cash after holding up an assistant at McIlwrath’s confectionery shop, Hillsborough Road, Carryduff. The men made off in the direction of Lisburn in a red Vauxhall Viva.

BALLYKINLAR — A Ballykinlar lady is still in hospital after having her left leg amputated as a result of being knocked through a shop window by a motorcyclist. The lady also received compound fractures to the right leg.

ELECTION — The leadership of Down Council changed hands in slightly dramatic fashion at the second annual meeting when Unionist Mr. Edward McVeigh succeeded SDLP chairman Mr. Edward McGrady.

The election was decided by a draw from a hat after both men received ten votes and after a recess was called to explore the stalemate.

Immediately after the recess Mr. McGrady said his party would agree on the toss of a coin or a draw from a hat. Mr. Seamus Byrne, council clerk, ruled that the election would be decided from a hat and a Down Recorder reporter was invited to make the draw.

The new chairman referred to the 30-minute proceedings as “one of the most unusual elections that I have ever fought.”