From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 1, 1992

From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 1, 1992

29 June 2022

BALLYNAHINCH – The announcement that Ballynahinch is unlikely to get a ring-road for at least ten years had been met with dismay by the town’s regeneration committee.

Members meeting last week said the decision by DoE Roads officials has condemned the town to another decade of unacceptable high levels of traffic congestion.

However, the committee was urged by South Down MP, Mr Eddie McGrady, to continue lobbying for the project. He said members should continue to meet with Down District Council and the DoE to press for a commitment.

Earlier, members expressed their disappointment at the announcement – several angrily accused the DoE of neglecting the needs of the town.

Dr Fed Byrne claimed many residents are being trapped because of the traffic levels.

“Our present traffic system is criminal. We are prisoners in our own town. In ten years’ time,  Ballynahinch will be totally choked with traffic,” he remarked.

Mr Gerard McMullan said the congestion in Ballynahinch is affecting other parts of the district, particularly Newcastle’s tourist industry. “People are being discouraged from going to Newcastle because of the traffic in Ballynahinch” he said.

Another member, Mr Billy Alexander, who is also president of the town’s Chamber of Commence, said many of the town’s traders would be opposed to a ring-road out of fear of losing business.

DOWNPATRICK  – A total of £750,000 is to be spent by the Eastern Health Board on improving and upgrading Finneston House in Downpatrick, it has been announced this week.

Work is due to start next month at the facility, which acts as an admission unit for the Downshire Psychiatric Hospital.

The announcement of a go-ahead for the scheme was made by the assistant general manager of the Down and Lisburn unit of management, Mr John Compton.

He explained: The contract is due to be awarded shortly and building work is expected to take nine months to complete.

“The buildings will be extensively renovated and the new building has been designed very much as a therapeutic facility with an environment, inside and outside the building, to help people recover from illness.”

Finneston House will have 55 beds with an additional 10 day hospital beds and a modern out-patient suite. There are also plans for a specialised facility for the treatment of acute disturbance.

Mr Compton said while the work is carried out patients from Finneston will be relocated to Lecale House. This shift will take place over the weekend beginning July 3.

He denied the Finneston improvement had ever been in doubt saying the delay has been caused by a moratorium on Board expenditure.

“We are reinvesting money into institutional care and this will represent possibly the largest capital investment in the Board area this year. The Downshire has been likened to a bank paying out to everywhere else but never seeming to get anything for the Down area. However, we believe this investment will result in a showcase facility.”

SAINTFIELD – Residents in Saintfield are being urged to take part in a tidy-up campaign for the town.

The campaign, which is being spearheaded by the town committee, is part of Saintfield’s drive to win the Northern Ireland Amenity Council’s Best Kept Awards competition.

With judges expected to arrive in the town within the next few days, residents and traders are being asked to allow the example set by the Saintfield In-Bloom Association.

Committee chairman, Mr Sam Spratt, says the aim of the competition should be to make Saintfield as “attractive and tidy as possible.”

Judging will be assessed on the absence of litter, posters and graffiti; the appearance of building; neatness of roads, verges, public areas and private gardens; and the condition if street fixtures.

“Down Council, the Department of the Environment and the Housing Executive will asked to play their part. To complete the task, I ask traders, developers and every man, woman and child in Saintfield to make an effort in the days to come said Mr Spratt.

DOWN DISTRICT – Up to 5,000 elderly and disabled people in Down District are expected to benefit from a new scheme which brings Citizen Advice Bureau services direct to their home.

The local CAB is officially launching the new outreach service at a reception next Wednesday after obtaining funding to operate the scheme from Down Area Social Services and the Comic Relief fund.

Bureau officials say the service is being launched because elderly and disabled people, who tend to be reliant on social security benefits, often live in country areas where transport is infrequent.

People with benefit problems can find it difficult to attend the CAB’s office in Downpatrick, so now the bureau workers are planning to bring the service to the clients.

A spokesman for the Down District CAB Management Committee said this week: “The Citizens’ Advice Bureau is a generalised advice agency, but we have been forced by demand to specialise in welfare rights. This new service is greatly to be welcomed as it will empower the elderly and disabled to obtain their rights. Our workers will be seeking to address the underlying causes of their disadvantages.”

NEWCASTLE – The planned closure of Newcastle’s Mourne House has a bearing on the future of the Downpatrick hospitals, a Down councillor has warned.

Newcastle SDLP councillor, Mr Michael Boyd, said the way in which consultation was carried out on the future of the residential home leaves a cloud over the existing facilities in the district.

“The Board decided to proceed with the closure option despite the united opposition of our MP, Down Council, the Eastern Health Council, the churches, the unions, staff, residents and the Friends of Mourne House,” said Mr Boyd.

“Does this mean that a small number of management gurus now feel free to ride roughshod over the feelings and views of local people?”

Many of us questioned the validity and sincerity of the so-called consultation process,” he continued. “We felt that the had already been written, and it only remained for it to be acted out.

“For example, no sooner had the process begun when officials visited the home to discuss with individual residents the alternatives available to them. A genuine consultation process would have precluded this type of visitation,” said Mr Boyd.

KILLINCHY – The Irish Moto-cross Grand Prix roars into action on Saturday, with some of the World’s top bike stars taking part.

For the first time the Killinchy & District Motorcycle Club will stage a round in the 250cc world championship, a boost to the club and the motorcross scene in Ireland.

The event is also part of the Gilbeys Ulster Games programme, the feature of course being the seventh round of the world 250cc championship. Ards  Borough Council and Heron Suzuki are the main co-sponsors.

Last weekend the action took place in England at Foxhill, Swindon, so all is geared up for this weekend’s big meeting at Killinchy.

Unfortunately two weeks ago world leader Stefan Everts crashed heavily in the German round and underwent surgery to have is spleen removed. 

The injury must cast serious doubts over his appearance at Killinchy.

But the runaway winner in Germany where he posted three success  the 250cc has three legs as opposed to the 125cc two legs – American Donny Schmit will be in action at Killinchy.