From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 17, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 17, 1993

15 March 2023

KILLYLEAGH – Residents at Killyleagh’s “forgotten” Comber Road estate have issued an ultimatum to the Housing Executive to take urgent steps to tackle a major seepage problem.

Local people claim the water oozing from a number of holes in a garden all, represents a major health problem.

Resident Ron Taylor, who this week mooted the possibility of establishing a tenants’ association, described the overall condition of the area as “filthy”.

He said the Executive had neglected the estate over the past few years and claimed its representatives had refused to enter into discussions with concerned residents.

“The seepage problem has been with us for almost a year and no one wants to take responsibility for it,” he declared.

Mr Taylor also revealed one theory under consideration was that sewage was coming out of the wall.

“All the residents in the estate are annoyed by the Executive’s lack of action. A number of young children play in this particular area and are at great risk,” he suggested, calling for new drains to be installed in a bid to cure the problem.

Mr Taylor added: “We live in the forgotten estate. No one wants to listen to us, despite all our pleas for help.”

Down Council chairman Sam Osborne has promised that the local authority’s Environmental Health Department will investigate the problem and report back to the committee.

STRANGFORD – Unsightly warehouses in the centre of Strangford have been blamed for costing the village victory in last year’s best kept village competition.

Village committee chairman, Mr Michael McConville, told last week’s AGM that Strang-ford was one of six finalists in the 1992 competition, but it was probably the condition of the warehouses which had swung the judges’ decision. 

“For the past 13 years we have watched these stores become more of an eyesore in the very heart of the conservation area of the village,” he said. “Every so often we are told that a contractor is interested in the site and that building is about to commence, only to hear later that they have withdrawn.”

Mr McConville said that there are no detailed proposals for the buildings currently lodged with the planning office and he felt that it is now time for the villagers to suggest what should be done with them.

“We feel we have been patient long enough,” he said. “It is time to put our ideas forward as to what we would like to see built on this site.

SAINTFIELD – Calls have been made for Environment Minister Robert Atkins to intervene after local planners again vetoed a carpet warehouse development in Saintfield.

Despite a reconsideration, the Planning Service has refused to give the go-ahead for the wholesale warehouse with associated showroom and offices on land behind the town’s industrial estate, a decision which has angered local councillors.

Down Council vice-chairman Margaret Ritchie labelled the decision as “disgusting and scandalous” and warned that the development could be lost to the district unless the planners have a change of heart.

At Monday’s monthly council meeting local planning officer Richard McAuley explained that the development was being refused on two grounds.

One was a policy matter in that the proposed warehouse is contrary to the town development plan and secondly, it could create road safety problems because of a sub-standard access.

DOWNPATRICK – A Downpatrick estate’s long fight for a playground looks likely to succeed, following the publication of a Down Council report this week.

Children in the Kennedy Square estate are to be given the chance of their own play area after the council decided to close the Ardmore playground and concentrate facilities in the nearby estate.

The report claims the Ardmore playground is poorly used with the majority of children gravitating to the better playground at Knocknashinna and few children crossing from Kennedy Square. 

The council is to close the playground and instead provide a playground for the Kennedy Square estate where residents have long campaigned for playing facilities for children.

The council report, which examined every playground in Down District, recommends the retention of all but the Ardmore playground and another in Saintfield’s Listooder Park.

ARDGLASS – An Ardglass councillor has appealed for help in removing graffiti from the town.

Mr Dermot Curran wants local people to help him remove the “very unsightly and degrading graffiti” from a wall at Quay Street in the town.

“This does nothing for our picturesque and historic fishing village which is visited by a large number of people every week,” said Mr Curran.

“Last year I call on the various organisations in the village for help in an effort to remove the graffiti but no one came forward. Once again I am asking for help, especially from the young,” he added.

Mr Curran said he will be contacting Down Council and the Department of the Environment to see what help or advice can be given. 

CASTLEWELLAN – The provision of new playgrounds at two Castlewellan housing estates has virtually ground to a halt, local councillors have been told.

The delay in playgrounds for Station Avenue and Mourne Gardens is blamed on a backlog of work at the District Valuers Office, which has to price the land needed for the two schemes.

Local councillor, Mr Eamonn O’Neill, has urged that the matter be pursued “with all vigour” as the provision of these playgrounds is already a priority matter.

NEWCASTLE – Crime and vandalism in Newcastle must be tackled now says a concerned local action group which want to maintain the town’s reputation as a family holiday centre.

Shopkeepers, landowners and residents between King Street and Bonny’s Caravan Park were asked at a recent meeting to join forces and help lobby foe measures in “the main problem areas.”

“We are looking for people who have land and property which is part of that area or connected to it,” said organiser, Tim Hodnett of Newcastle YMCA.

“It is an inclusive group rather than an exclusive group and it is very much about seeking solutions to the problem,” he added.

At the first meeting, held last September, they identified litter, illicit camping, fire, burglary and theft, caravan break-ins, vandalism of hotels and cars, drinking, trespass and dumping as problems which were growing in the area. 

“September’s meeting was very much to form an establishing group,” said Mr Hodnett who described the group as “ad-hoc” without a formal structure or timetable for meetings.

We were asking various people to do different things, like look at how other district councils are solving their violence problems.”

Mr Hodnett said there were various solutions which could be applied immediately to make the situation better, including extending the public drinking ban to cover the region in question.

KILLINCHY – A Killinchy yachtsman sets off in September to experience for the second time one of the world’s great adventures.

Twenty-seven year-old Corin MacKenzie has been selected to take part in the Whitbread Round the World yacht race.

Corin, a professional skipper and rigger, took part in the race when it was last staged four years ago.

This time round, he will be part of a crew of young sailors, drawn together from all parts of the British Isles, who share in common the achievement of having overcome differing disabilities.