From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1992

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 11, 1992

9 March 2022

DOWNPATRICK – Work has begun on the first phase of a major agricultural marketing centre for the Downpatrick area.

Diggers moved in this week to begin excavating a ten-acre site for a co-operative project which is being seen as essential to the future of the local farming community.

A £300,000 livestock mart will form the first stage of an ambitious scheme by the Downpatrick Co-Operative Marketing Centre, a limited company which has been set up by more than 270 local farmers.

A covered sale yard and ancillary buildings on the Bonecastle Road site are expected to be finished  in time for trading to begin by late July. It will replace the town’s previous mart which closed two years ago.

However, the mart is part of a much larger project which includes plans for animal processing facilities, a conference centre and extensive retailing outlets. 

Mr Hugh Linehan, chairman of the co-operative, says it will be the most advanced project of its kind in Northern Ireland and will bring jobs and wealth to the area.

“We see this as the way ahead for local agriculture,” Mr Linehan said yesterday.

Funding for the mart phase is largely complete. The co-operative has already raised approximately £240,000 in either shareholders’ capital or in loans. Grant aid from the Food From Britain scheme is also being sought.

STRANGFORD – A controversial plan to build a new ferry jetty in Strangford has been vetoed by residents.

Residents have voted overwhelmingly to reject a £400,000 scheme by the Department of Environment to build a new mooring jetty away from the main harbour area.

A 90 metre-long steel structure, to be built alongside existing dry-dock facilities, was condemned as a potential eyesore within a designated conservation area.

The decision came at a packed public meeting on Wednesday night and it means that the scheme, which could have got underway by October, has now effectively been scrapped.

DoE officials had insisted the project would only go ahead subject to local approval.

They had taken the view that the jetty would provide a mooring base for the two car ferries, therefore releasing the main quay and much of the harbour for recreational use.

The decision to reject the proposal has also thrown into doubt the future of an improvement package for the village which includes the replacement of the existing ferry terminal, environmental improvements and a new traffic system to reduce congestion.

Residents were told that money would be made available for the entire project, on condition that the jetty proposal was accepted. With that acceptance not forthcoming, the money is no longer guaranteed and a fresh bid for funding will have to be made. 

ARDGLASS – A Government minister has been challenged to sanction the “spending of buttons” to end more than 20 years of misery for the residents of an Ardglass housing estate.

Ardglass SDLP councillor Dermot Curran said yesterday he has written to Stormont Minster Jeremy Hanley demanding immediate action to solve the problems associated with Mill River adjacent to the village’s Seaview housing estate.

“I have submitted a full dossier on the history of long delay in resolving this problem,” explained Mr Curran.

“Since 1973 I have been asking for the culverting of this river. In 1985 it was indicated it would cost £38,000 to carry out the work.

“It is disgraceful that the residents of this estate are still being asked to endure this public health hazard on their doorstep. Action is needed before a life is lost.”

Mr Curran wants the Housing Executive, Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment to share the cost of the scheme.

“It would cost the about £10,000 each. We have all seen lots of £10,000’s spent foolishly and disgracefully across Northern Ireland. It is buttons and Mr Hanley, who I have found to be a very fair minister, should consider it as his last good deed before he leaves the island.”

KILLYLEAGH – Educational officials do not anticipate selling the former Killyleagh and Castlewellan high school sites until well into the next financial year.

The South Eastern Education and Library Board confirmed this week that despite considerable interest in both complexes there is little prospect of them being sold in the near future.

The recession is being blamed for the difficulty, with many developers reluctant to make the large financial commitment necessary to buy either site.

However, the Board’s chief architect, Mr Stan Savage, revealed that most interest has been directed at Killyleagh which sits on a prime site overlooking Strangford Lough.

He explained that two possible developers are looking closely at the site and have been in negotiation with planning officials over possible developments. 

“However, there has been very limited interest in Castlewellan,” said Mr Savage. “It is the view of the valuation development that it is an unfortunate time to be trying to sell these sort of buildings.

“We do not see either being sold until well into the next financial year,” he added.

“I am fairly optimistic that we will sell the Killyleagh site but we would be a bit concerned about the future sale of the Castlewellan site.”

BALLYNAHINCH – The GPT site at Ballynahinch has received a Government-backed endorsement of its quality standards.

The telecommunications plant has been granted ISO 9002 by the Department of Trade and Industry-approved Lloyds Register Quality Assurance.

“The ISO 9002 is a system developed by the ISO and is an international accreditation. This will assure our customers that the quality systems within GPT can provide and applications needed to offer the most sophisticated business solutions in the network,” explained Mr Tony Cobbe, managing director of GPT telecommunications systems group.

The award is a timely boost for the Ballynahinch plant which earlier this year laid off 150 workers. Another GPT manufacturing site at Edge Lane, Liverpool, also attained the standard.

NEWCASTLE – The Eastern Health Council is to meet a delegation from the Friends of Mourne House early next month to discuss the proposed closure of the Newcastle residential home.

The Council has agreed to a request from the local pressure group that its representatives be allowed to speak for the retention of the home at the council’s next meeting in April

At Thursday’s monthly meeting members were also told that invitations have been issued  to all council members inviting them to visit the home and meet the staff and residents before the April meeting.

It is believed a group of council members have already agreed to travel to Newcastle to view the home which is earmarked for closure by the Down and Lisburn unit of management.

Down Council’s representative on the council, Mr John Ritchie, encouraged the members to visit the home and see for themselves the excellent work being done in Mourne House.

BISHOPSCOURT – The thrill of top class motorcycling roars back to life at Bishopscourt this weekend after a gap of 20 years.

The first of seven meetings this season at the former RAF base takes place on Saturday – and some of the sport’s top names will be there.

Among the leading riders who can’t wait to test their machines on the 1.85 mile circuit are Banbridge’s Aubrey McCauley, Dave Leach from Katesbridge, Alan Irwin, Ian Gibson and Bangor’s Leslie McAllister. 

It’s exactly 20 years ago since the airfield hosted its last bike event, but airfield owners David Beattie and John Giffen aren’t interested in the past.

They’ve got their sights firmly fixed on the future in the hope of bringing world championship grand prix racing to Bishopscourt within the next five years.