From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 3rd, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, March 3rd, 1993

1 March 2023

BALLYHORNAN – Plans have been unveiled for a new fish processing factory in Ballyhornan, which is expected to create upwards of 50 jobs.

A local businessman is currently seeking planning approval for the 375 square metre factory which will be located at one of the former RAF  base buildings at Killard Road and create much-needed employment in the area.

The application is expected to be discussed shortly by senior plannings chiefs in Downpatrick and their recommendation is scheduled to be presented to Down councillors on April 18.

It is the third factory proposal for the Ardglass area in recent months and follows a recently approved plan to build a fish processing factory at the village’s Strangford Road.

Last October, plans were lodged with local planners for a £1m fish waste processing factory at Station Road, Ardglass, by Mr Philip Milligan.

If the latest venture, which is expected to cost around several hundred thousand pounds, gets the go ahead, it will bring the total sum invested in the fish processing industry in the Ardglass area to over a staggering £3m.

The latest application by Mr Charles Mulhall, is for a change of use of a former boiler house works to a fish and shell-fish processing factory.

It is understood that he intends seeking financial assistance from local Government agencies, including LEDU and the Industrial Development Board. 

If everything goes according to plan and planning permission is granted, Mr Mulhall says he hopes to make an immediate start on the development.

BALLYNAHINCH – A feasibility study into a proposed extension for the Ballynahinch Community Centre is scheduled to commence later in the year,.

The complex is widely regarded as one of the most efficiently-run leisure centres in Down District and over the past number of years usage figures has continued to soar.

It is understood that one of the feasibility study’s main aims will be to investigate the likely success of a new, high tech fitness suite and enlarged main hall.

Finance permitting, extension work could commence in 1995 and local councillors are understood to be in favour of such a move.

They want to see the council devoting as much of its time and energy to the town as it does in Downpatrick and Newcastle.

The council’s Sports Development Officer, Mr Pat McCluskey, said officers were currently looking at the spread of facilities in the area in a bid to identify which centres needed upgrading.

KILLYLEAGH – The future of Killyleagh’s Seaboard Sailing Centre is being debated under a review of local outdoor pursuit centres.

The centre is one of four owned by the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the review will look at ways of arresting the decline in Seaboard’s popularity over recent years.

The other three centres, Ardnabannon in Castlewellan, the F H Ebbit Field Study Centre at Bryansford and Cabra Towers, are all very popular among visiting youth groups, but the number visiting Seaboard has declined in recent years.

As yet there is no suggestion that Seaboard could be closed, but board officials are planning a major staffing and services review to decide on how the centre will fit into its plans for the next decade.

The fact that Seaboard concentrates on sailing and boating programmes is believed to be one reason for the fall-off in demand and education officials are keen to expand the services offered at the centre in a bid to improve throughput figures.

SAINTFIELD – Saintfield was pretty as a picture early on Sunday morning as a dozen volunteers worked to clean the streets and pavements, at the start of the ambitious ‘Saintfield 21’ project.

Members of the Town Committee, under the leadership of chairman, Mr Sam Spratt, began at 8am in brilliant sunshine with brushes and shovels in the car park, working their way along to Main Street and surrounding roads.

Announcing Saintfield 21 during the clean-up, Mr Spratt said: “We are just launching it. This effort is just the first step in that direction, and a very humble first step.”

He described it as a project to help Saintfield set new standard in appearance and amenity. “Since 1988, we have bloomed and blossomed as a community,” said Mr Spratt.

NEWCASTLE – Newcastle traders have stepped up the fight against increasing vandalism in the resort with the launch of a new register to record acts of destruction against local business premises.

The register scheme was unveiled at Monday night’s meeting at the town’s Chamber of Commerce  after it was revealed that many acts of vandalism are not even being reported to the police.

Now local businessmen are hoping that an accurate catalogue of incidents will help to provide a true picture of the frequency of vandalism in Newcastle.

Chairman, Mr Peter Law said: “People don’t report small things because they don’t think it’s worthwhile. The Chamber is interested in any small event.”

He encouraged all  the town’s traders to call into the Chambers offices and leave a note of any violence to their property and described vandalism as a “terrible” problem for the tourist town.

Businesses in the town suffer regularly from broken signs, windows and graffiti, which while rated as “minor incidents”, cost considerable time and money to put right, say traders.

KILLOUGH – Touched by the plight of the profoundly mentally handicapped, a young Killough schoolboy has decided to do his bits to raise funds for the Martin Residential Trust.

Next week, 10 year-old William Stewart, who has been singing for a number of years, releases a cassette tape featuring 10 tracks including “21 Acres of Land,” “Before I Met You,” “Working Man” and “Lovely Rose of Clare”.

A pupil at St Nicholas’ Primary School, Ardglass, William recorded the country music tape at Ray Valentine’s studio in Strangford, with the backing music provided by Breakaway’s John McKinney. 

One of the tracks has already been played by BBC radio personality Gerry Anderson on his popular morning show, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, William hopes the tape will strike the right note with the public.

DOWNPATRICK – The future of Downpatrick’s Ardmore House Special School is under discussion, education chiefs have revealed.

The school, which caters for disruptive children from throughout the South Eastern Education and Library Board areas being looked at under a rationalisation debate on all the board’s special education schools.

One option under discussion is the closing of Ardmore House with its operation being transferred to a school closer to Belfast.

However, should the school close an alternative use could be found for the complex – as a teachers’ centre.

One theory gaining ground among educationalists is the transferring of the present teachers’ centre from its current site at Mount Crescent to Ardmore House.

This would enable the collegiate of Down High School and Down Academy to take over the Mount Crescent buildings for much needed extra accommodation.

A Board spokesman said the Special Education Sub-Committee had looked at a number of options and revealed that these would be discussed shortly with senior officers, Ardmore House staff and members of the school’s Board of Governors.

PORTAFERRY – The people of St Patrick’s Parish in Portaferry have bid a fond farewell to Fr Fergal McGrady, who left shortly before Christmas to take up a new post in Ballymena.

Fr McGrady, who was extremely popular with the young and old alike, established many friendships during his three years in Portaferry and was delighted to return on Sunday for a special social evening in his honour.

The event for the popular curate was organised by the ladies of St Patrick’s and was held in the village’s Community Centre, which was packed with parishioners and friends

Fr McGrady, who hails from Downpatrick, was accompanied by his parents, Mr and Mrs Malachy McGrady, and other members of his family for the celebration evening.