From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 8, 2000

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 8, 2000

4 November 2020

BALLYNAHINCH – Pupils at Ballynahinch’s Assumption Grammar School were told to “shoot for the moon” when choosing their future careers. 

In her first GCSE prize day address as principal, Mrs. Sheila Crea urged students to continue to grasp new opportunities.

Congratulating pupils on the diligence and sacrifice which had led the to academic excellence,  she said their striking results signified “promising horizons’” for the girls.

Admitting that examination results were not the only thing of importance, Mrs Crea said the example set by students was also to be praised.

But in spite of unqualified praise, the new headmistress urged the girls not to rest on their laurels.

“New challenges await you, they also await me, and both of us have an excellent school to support us,” she said.

She asked the girls to remember the advice they were offered at the school when they progressed to future achievements.

“Remember good time management, good balancing of social life, good use of academic and personal expertise of our staff and good use of facilities,” she said.

In the address, parents were applauded for their support offered during the stressful examination weeks, while teachers were credited for their unstinting dedication.

SHRIGLEY — Moves by Shrigley Community Association to secure premises to carry on their work are to be supported by local councillors.

The association is currently based in a bungalow which has been provided by the Housing Executive, but it could soon be required by the housing body to provide accommodation for a local family.

Housing chiefs say they may require the  bungalow when work on the second phase of a major refurbishment programme in the village gets underway later this year.

Last week, members of Down Council’s cultural and economic development committee highlighted the key role the local group plays in the Shrigley area.

They are to write to the Housing Executive to see if a permanent home can be found for the local group to continue its work with the close-knit community.

CASTLEWELLAN – Down Council is to get involved with the ambitious project to construct the world’s biggest peace maze in the grounds of Castlewellan Forest Park.

The local authority is keep to support the project and has expressed an interest in providing financial backing for the construction of a peace bridge which will form one of the centre pieces of the new attraction.

The 18 metre long bridge will connect the centre of the maze to its exterior and local politicians believe it would be suitable to support this aspect of the exciting new development.

During last week’s meeting of the council’s Cultural and Economic Development Committee it was confirmed the cost of the peace bridge would be £25,000.

And although the committee members still had to sit down to work out their budgetary requirements for next year, they hope the full council will find the case to support what they are describing as a very worthy initiative.

Work on a major planting exercise to create the new peace maze began recently and Cllr Anne McAleenan says she has no doubt the project will develop into a key tourist attraction for the area.

DOWNPATRICK – A lengthy campaign to have a new bus station provided in Downpatrick could becoming to an end.

South Down MP Eddie McGrady has this week confirmed plans to construct a new station at the Lower Market Street area in the town are to be included in Translink’s new corporate plan. 

The new station could be in place at the end of next year if the company’s corporate plan is given the green light and the money to finance the scheme can be found.

Once work on the new plan has been completed, it will be submitted to the Department of Regional Development for detailed consultation before being implemented in 2001.

Mr. McGrady, who has been campaigning for some time for a new bus station, says it is vital the facilities is replaced with modern premises, capable of meeting the needs of travellers in the new millennium.

BISHOPSCOURT – A planning appeal opened in Downpatrick last week which focused on the running of the Bishopscourt outdoor activity centre.

Planning chiefs contended that the owners of the facility, David and Barbara Beattie and John Giffen, had exceeded the number of days the centre could be used.

They argued the facility was used on days which are not permitted, resulting in a breach of the conditions stipulated by the Department wen planning permission for the centre, which also includes a race track, was granted.

The hearing was due to have taken place in July, but was adjourned and last week’s opening session was dominated by legal arguments with representatives for the Planning Department and the owners of the facility putting forward their respective cases.

A lawyer for the residents in the Bishopscourt area, who are objecting to the overuse of the outdoor pursuits centre, said he would be making the case that conditions of the existing planning permission have been breached.

Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the owners of the Bishopscourt complex, who admitted the site had been used in excess of the 14 days permitted under the planning permission, suggested the criteria relating to one of the beaches of conditions was “hopelessly ambiguous”.

NEWCASTLE – Leading GPs and nurses in the Castlewellan and Newcastle areas are in line for major accolades this weekend at the Northern Ireland Healthcare awards ceremony.

The annual gala event is being staged in Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Saturday night with the Donard Commissioning Group and Newcastle GP, Dr Kieran Sherrard, both in the running to scoop top awards.

The Donard Commissioning Group, which includes Doctors Kieran Walshe, and Christopher Leggett, along with project manager Miceal Crilly, has been shortlisted for an award after it created a multi-disciplinary approach towards patient care so that the majority of care takes place in general practice.

MARSHALLSTOWN – Road Service chiefs are to be asked to improve safety standards at the Marshallstown area on the outskirts of Downpatrick.

Councillor Gerry Mahon has this week called on the Department of Regional Development to introduce series of measures, including new speed restriction signs.

HIs call comes in the wake of concerns expressed by residents in the area who fear the speed of traffic is posing a danger to young children and the elderly.

Mr. Mahon says its is vital the genuine concerns of the people who live in the area are taken on board and that measures are put in place before there is a serious incident.

KILCOO – A Down councillor has welcomed a decision by the Roads Service to provide a footpath to Kilcoo’s Moyadd cottages.

Cllr Frank McDowell, said he has been campaigning for the footpath for over 12 years, adding that “unacceptable delay” had been highlighted after an elderly resident was recently involved in an accident.

“The Department has now assured me that it is currently proposing to provide a footpath running from the village to Moyadd cottages and this scheme will progress when the current land difficulties can be overcome.”

“The footpath will not run across the front of the cottages as this belongs to the property owners. However, due to the existing levels, the provision of a footpath presents a number of technical difficulties.”

To overcome them, only two options are available and this would involve either the provision of steps down to the cottages or the acquisition of the front gardens.”

PORTAFERRY — Alliance Assembly member for Strangford Kieran McCarthy has welcomed the Fire Service’s current advertising campaign for new recruits.

Mr. McCarthy, who recently expressed concerns about the lack of Fire Service recruits in Portaferry, also appealed for new members to join up.

“Great concern had been expressed lately to the Fire Service about the under-staffing in their situations and I hope enough people now come forward,” he said.