From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 28, 1995

From the pages of the Down Recorder, June 28, 1995

25 June 2025

WATER WORKS – Farmers’ leaders have reacted angrily to news that the Department of Environment is on the verge of approving a plan to lay a large asbestos pipe across 5km of agricultural land between Castlewellan and Ballynahinch.

Two companies, both planning to use the asbestos cement pipe are in the running to win the £3m contract to replace part of the 90 year-old Mourne conduit, which carries water from the Silent Valley reservoir to the Greater Belfast area.

Other firms which have tendered for the contract, are believed to be out of the frame for the contract because they are proposing to use concrete or metal pipes which are much more expensive.

The pipes are made from asbestos cement and the inside is coated with a protective material to prevent water becoming contaminated. However, the exterior of the pipe is not protected and because of this is banned in a number of European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden.

However, local farmers’ representatives say they will demand an inquiry if the contact goes to one of the asbestos pipe firms, claiming such a pipeline could expose residents of the area and livestock in life-threatening risk from the killer substance.

A local Ulster Farmers’ Union representative said he views the move with concern and has called for an inquiry to be set up to examine all the effects of asbestos-coated pipes on arable land.

The pipes are to be imported from Belgium by a Dublin-based firm and while they meet United Kingdom safety standards, they are cheaper than asbestos-free concrete pipes.

HEATWAVE  – The Mediterranean sunshine which is expected to continue until the end of the week is causing a major headache for casualty staff at the Downe Hospital.

One in five people who called at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit last weekend were suffering from burns after soaking up the summer sunshine for too long. 

The rush of people to the casualty unit has prompted the Down Lisburn Trust to issue a reminder to everyone in the area to cover up and be careful about how long they spend in the sun.

Young children and adults all flocked to the Downe in their droves, with many not calling until the early hours of the morning when they could no longer stand the pain of the flaming skin.

Staff were horrified to hear stories of some people smothering themselves in cooking and baby oil and one person even admitted spreading butter over her body in the hope of attaining a golden tan. 

A large number of children were burnt over the weekend and health chiefs say babies should not be exposed to the sun at all and young children should not be allowed to stay in direct light for long periods.

DRUMANESS – Conservation work at Drumaness Dam resumes this Sunday when a number of local people will help remove debris from the village’s picturesque mill-pond.

The Friends of Drumaness Dam was established in 1992 to carry out practical conservation work in the village and their achievements include tree planting, pond and river clearance, footpath restoration and the construction of a viewing platform.

The group is composed solely of volunteers and is affiliated to the environmental charity, Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland. 

DOWNPATRICK – Senior Water Services chiefs have this week been asked to carry out a major investigation to discover how hundreds of gallons of raw sewage poured onto the marshes beside the Mound of Down.

The spillage close to the historic site has been described as an “environmental disaster” by Downpatrick councillor Jack McIlheron, who has been inundated with complaints.

Soaring temperatures have resulted in noxious smells wafting over the English Street, Belfast Road and Roughal Park areas and workmen have been working frantically over the past number of days to clear the problem.

Mr McIlheron says the raw sewage, which has been exposed to temperatures touching almost 80 degrees, represents a major health hazard and he hopes senior Department of Environment officials will find a cure to the problem.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports that the Water Service is planning to locate a new sewage pipe across the marshes, but the local councillor says poor foundation could result in new pipes cracking.

Ironically, the spillage occurred just a few hundred yards from the town’s main pumping station at the  Belfast Road, where work on a new £1m plant is scheduled to begin at the turn of the century.

“There has been a number of problems in the general Belfast Road area with sewage over the past number of years and it appears the time had come for the problems to be put to an end once and for all, said McIlheron.

NEWCASTLE  – Members of the Newcastle Citizens’ Campaign are still considering whether to accept a seat on a proposed partnership board, which could oversee the seaside town’s regeneration initiative.

The plan to set up a steering committee or partnership board with executive powers came from Down Council’s Economic Development committee last week, which wants to establish an office to guide the town through a development strategy.

If the proposal gets the go-ahead, five councillors may sit on the body, along with officials from the Department of the Environment’s Roads and Planning Services and Tourist Board representatives.

But only one place has been allocated to the Newcastle Citizens’ Campaign,  which was set up in January and has been critical of the council’s plans for Newcastle.

PORTAFERRY – As part of Northern Ireland’s first marine environmental awareness week, which began on Monday, the Portaferry aquarium, Exploris, is hosting a range of activities.

Organised by Exploris, Sea Week aims to increase public awareness of the marine life of Strangford Lough and the Irish Sea.

An extensive programme of educational and entertaining events has been planned, along with the Exploris Roadshow, which will be touring the Province’s major towns with a travelling ‘touch tank’ aquarium – believed to be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Visitors to the roadshow will have a chance to touch an assortment of marine creatures.

KILLYLEAGH – The Killyleagh Development Association has backed calls by residents for a revision of the town’s new experimental one-way traffic system.

The Association has written to the Divisional Roads Manager this week asking him to make an early change to the scheme. Over the past number of weeks, concern has been expressed about the imposition of the one-way system along the town’s Seaview area.

A spokesman for the Association said the group “fully supports” the one-way system in operation at Shore Street, but shares the concerns which have been expressed about the one-way system at Seaview.

“We do not believe this is necessary, but any alteration should wait until the end of the review period,” said the spokesman.

The Association believes the current one-way position in Seaview is adding to traffic congestion in Catherine Street and the Cross junction and is hampering the coal businesses and delivery lorries operating from the harbour area.

“There is natural traffic flow between Cuan  Beach, Seaview and the labour area, which has been hampered by this experimental change, spokesman continued.