From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 19, 1993

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 19, 1993

17 May 2023

DOWNPATRICK – Ulsterbus has this week unveiled plans for a new £1m state-of-the-art passenger terminal at its Lower Market Street base in Downpatrick.

The existing premises are to be bulldozed to make way for the exciting new development which is expected to take around eight months to complete.

The development is being viewed as part of the company’s continuing commitment to its passengers in the Down District area and follows similar announcements for new terminals in Newcastle and Ballynahinch.

The general depot area has also been earmarked for major upgrading and the present engineering works are to be recladded. The company also intends to lay new brick paving and parking stands.

An application for full planning permission with lodged earlier this month and Ulsterbus officials are confident the scheme will be given the green light to allow the project to be put out to tender.

The new terminal, which will front onto Market Street, will include two shops and toilets, including facilities for the disabled. There are also plans to establish a mini travel centre, parcel office and enhanced rest room facilities for drivers.

Ulsterbus’s district manager, Mr Hugh Scott, said the new development was part of the company’s overall strategy to upgrade its facilities across the province.

KILLYLEAGH – Killyleagh Parish Church, requiring repairs estimated at £85,000 and which was hit by a £7,000 bill for a new central heating boiler in January, is the focus of a new fundraising campaign.

Parishioners are being called on to increase their contributions to a fund which the organisers hope will pay for the refurbishments over the next five or six years.

Other events have been planned to save the grade-three listed building, which was treated for damp in 1991 at a cost of £20,000, following a structural survey carried out for the Select Vestry which drew attention to the poor order of the church.

The failure of the heating system in January added to the projected costs, and faced with a long-term financial commitment, the church is beginning the effort with a car-boot and garage sale at Shrigley Lodge on May 22, starting 10am.

ANNACLOY – An Annacloy businessman who refused to have over cash to an armed robber and who chased the man despite being shot in the neck, has been hailed a hero.

Joseph McGrath, who had just finished listening to the 10 o’clock news last Saturday evening, was confronted in his store by the  masked man.

The gunman burst into the shop brandishing a handgun and ordered Mr McGrath, who he believed was alone, to open the till. However, the intruder was unaware that one of the owner’s sons was also inside.

The son, who was behind the counter when the man burst in, stood up and had the gun turned on him. He was also ordered to open the till and hand over its contents. The youth refused and his father ordered the gunman to leave the premises.

“The gunman shouted at me and told me that I was going to die before taking up a firing position. I ducked out of the way and heard a loud bang as I fell away.”

Unknown to Mr McGrath the bullet had struck him and on the neck before leaving his upper body via his right shoulder.

DUNDRUM – Dundrum Football club now has a new pavilion, which is connected up to mains water and electricity, allowing players to take a hot shower after the game for the first time said SDLP MP, Mr Eddie McGrady.

“After repeated representations to Down District Council, I am pleased to announce that the pavilion has now been located and that the services to this pavilion have now been connected,” he said.

He continued: “Piping for water supply was installed last week and shower units are currently being installed. I hope that the service connection to this pavilion will mean that it can now be of total benefit to Dundrum Football Club”, he said.

CROSSGAR – Work is to commence shortly on a new scheme for disabled anglers at Raleagh Road, Crossgar.

The scheme is the brainchild of local men Gerry Fleming and William Hilditch, and they have been given valuable support by local councillors, Mr Jack McIlheron and Mr Albert Colmer.

The facility is to be sited on land owned by Mr and Mrs Lewis-Crosby who have given their blessing to the scheme and are keen to do all they can to help disabled anglers.

The men behind the project say they are determined that it will be a success and have appealed to all interested agencies to get in touch with them.

“We hope the local community will respond to what we are trying to do for the disabled,” 

said Mr Hilditch. “We need financial aid to help get the scheme off the ground.”

CARRYDUFF – Carryduff Community Association held its AGM last week, and local residents heard a call for increased involvement of local people in issues directly affecting them.

Chairman Mr Michael Henderson said: “We try to get all the community involved, both young and old, but it is a mammoth task and very time consuming for all.”

Addressing the meeting, he described the festival organised by the Association, which consisted of five-a-side football, a fun run, a 

Saturday fun day and yarn spinning, as a success.

“This year it is hoped that the festival will take place again but with the help of other groups in Carryduff including 

the schools, churches, traders and Castlereagh Borough Council,” he said.

CASTLEWELLAN – Members of the Castlewellan branch of the SDLP have welcomed news that the contract for work on the town’s new community centre has been awarded.

Local councillor, Mr Eamonn O’Neill, said he hoped work to transform the former maintained primary school would commence as soon as possible and that all sections of the local community would use the facility.

Branch members heard last week that the council will maintain the building and the surrounding ground. Mr O’Neill, said there was room for the development of an all-weather surface and bowling green facilities.

Also last week, a number of members voiced concern about plans by the Housing Executive to remove third bedrooms at homes in the St Malachy’s Drive and Avenue areas as part of a rehabilitation scheme.

ARDGLASS – Planning chiefs have this week been accused of employing ‘double standards’ when deliberating over planning application in the Ardglass area.

The claim has been made by local resident Mr Fergie Fitzsimons, who intends to take his case to an independent commissioner after being refused permission to build a new bungalow in the village.

Mr Fitzsimons is angry because an application to build a new fish factory in the field adjacent to his site was passed by the planners.

“I have no qualms with the businessman who is proposing to build the factory, but it appeared that there is one rule for one and one for another,” he declared.

“Several planning chiefs visited my site at the Strangford Road but they still refused to grant me permission.”

Mr Fitzsimons also made it clear that he was not intending to secure planning permission for the site and thens ell it to the highest bidder.

“All I am interested in is being given the same treatment as others. I want to build a new bungalow but have been told that the location is situated within a natural beauty spot and in an area of the village ear-marked for non-development.