From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 15, 1995

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 15, 1995

12 November 2025

REMEMBRANCE – A major political row is brewing after SDLP members on Down Council decided not to allow local authority finances to be used to purchase Remembrance Day poppy wreaths.

The council has not officially laid a wreath at any of the area’s cenotaphs since its reorganisation in 1973, in keeping with a policy established at the time.

But Ulster Unionists say the time has come for change, with the local authority’s vice-chairman, Mr Bill Biggerstaff, calling on the SDLP to use its majority influence to allow council cash to be used to buy wreaths to remember the fallen of two World Wars.

At present, Ulster Unionist and DUP councillors are the only local political representatives who lay wreaths during the annual services and they are bought by their respective parties and laid on their behalf.

But Mr Biggerstaff believes the time has come for Down Council to lay a wreath to remember both Protestant and Roman Catholic soldiers who fought and died beside one another in battle.

CHRISTMAS – The prospect of Down District’s three major towns being without festive lights at Christmas has been averted after a council climb-down.

Councillors have agreed to erect, maintain and insure lighting displays in Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch after hearing the towns would be in darkness without council support.

The council decision is an embarrassing U-turn on the stance taken just three weeks ago when councillors rejected a plea from the three chambers of commerce for just such assistance.

On that occasion councillors refused to alter their policy of providing pound-for-pound assistance with the purchase of lights, but after claims that the chambers’ case had not been properly articulated, the council agreed to reconsider.

At a special meeting on Tuesday evening the heads of the three chambers made a powerful plea for technical help in erecting and insuring the lights which have become increasingly expensive in recent years.

BALLYNAHINCH – A Ballynahinch man, just back from a six-month stint in strife-torn Chechnya, is already planning his next trip abroad to another country bearing the scars of war.

Derek Tate, who works for the Medical Emergency Relief International group, will soon be packing his bags and passport once again as he heads for another of the world’s trouble spots – Afghanistan.

Before that, he will be attending a course in Birmingham which is aimed at international volunteers and Derek will learn the skills of setting up refugee camps in trouble spots.

The 23 year-old Queen’s geography graduate has been involved with the London-based relief organisation for the past few years and says that while the work is tough and demanding, it is more than rewarding.

Dodging tracer bullets or taking cover from sniper fire may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for the Ballynahinch man, it has become part of his working life.

SAINTFIELD – The people of Saintfield have given a resounding ‘NO’ to plans to build a community centre in the town.

During a recent survey, organised by the Town Committee, residents gave the thumbs down to the idea of a community hall, but gave the green light to a leisure centre in the town.

However, the committee, which has agreed to scrap the community centre proposal, feel there are enough leisure centres in surrounding towns which are within reasonable travelling distance.

A spokesman for the committee said the initial survey, carried out during the summer months, was circulated around the town and there was a “reasonable response”.

“After much discussion it has been decided not to pursue the project any further at this stage,” he said.

STRANGFORD – The provision of a new ferry for the Strangford to Portaferry route is a long way off, a senior Roads Service official has warned.

Divisional Roads Manager Derek McCandless told Down councillors last week that although consultants have recommended the replacement of the MV Portaferry, it will be a “long and rough road” before a new vessel is provided.

Mr McCandless said the recommendation for replacement is the first step in a process of getting a new vessel, and his department now has to justify the expense of a new ferry for the route.

“We will be pursuing it and we will be in the melting pot for money but it is early days yet,” he said.

Councillor John Ritchie told Mr McCandless that the route is proving very popular with trippers travelling along the Co Down coast and that a new boat is vital.

DOWNPATRICK – Claims that an ancient priory may be located close to Downpatrick’s controversial link road are to be investigated by senior Department of Environment officials.

They have come up with a plan which they believe will ensure great care is taken not to disturb any ancient ruins which may be located close to the path of the £1.9m scheme, linking Church Street and Scotch Street.

Sources close to local Roads Service officials say they are confident “nothing of significance” will be found when demolition and excavation work starts some time next year.

However, roads bosses are leaving nothing to chance and have set up a mechanism to deal with anything which may be found.

Archaeologists with the Department’s Historic Buildings and Monuments Branch have given the go-ahead for a number of premises at Scotch Street to be bulldozed and have ruled they are not of any “significant value”.

BALLYNAHINCH – Ballynahinch residents are mobilising in support of a campaign calling for the provision of a new bus depot in the town, according to a local councillor.

A poster and petition drive, aimed at persuading Ulsterbus of the need for a new depot, has been launched by town councillor Billy Alexander and has already attracted significant support.

Almost 80 shops and businesses in the town have agreed to display posters calling for a new bus depot, and last Thursday over 1,000 signatures were collected for a petition.

Mr Alexander said the response to the campaign has confirmed his view that Ballynahinch people are united in their desire to have a new bus station to replace the existing depot which he has labelled “an eyesore”.

Ulsterbus has recently shelved plans to build a new depot on the site of the existing station, despite hosting a competition in 1993 asking students to design the building.

According to Mr Alexander, Ulsterbus claimed in 1994 the scheme had been delayed and earlier this year said the scheme would be going to tendering before the end of April.

CASTLEWELLAN – An elevated part of Castlewellan, which was the spark for the major replacement of the bulk of the town’s watermains, has not been included in the £400,000 contract.

Bunker’s Hill, the highest part of the town and the one which has experienced the worst watermain problems in recent years, has yet to see any improvement in the quality of its water despite the announcement that work on hte scheme will finish this week.

Instead, the Water Executive is considering whether to spend an additional £20,000 extending the watermain replacement project to Bunker’s Hill.

For Castlewellan councillor Eamonn O’Neill, it is ironic that the area which provided the inspiration for a long campaign to have the town’s watermains replaced, has still not reaped any benefits.