From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 30, 1992

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 30, 1992

28 September 2022

DOWNPATRICK – Consultation on Eastern Health Board plans to remove acute services from Downpatrick’s hospitals, end today with campaigners determined to carry the fight forward.

The Downpatrick Maternity Hospital is set to become the focus of debate in the latest phase of the campaign of opposition despite the fact that the three month consultation period will end at midnight.

Health campaigners are determined to continue highlighting issues and mobilising police support right up until the Board meets on October 22 to consider the contents of its Framework policy document.

Part of the campaign involves launching ‘The Great Maternity Debate’ with a meeting in the Down Leisure Centre to which all mothers are being invited.

The Down Community Health Committee met on Monday night and agreed to pursue its policy of making the public aware of the implications of the docket while preparing a detailed response to it.

The committee has presented an interim submission to the Board but has made it clear that it needs more time to prepare a full response and has asked for a six month extension to the consultation period.

A judicial review has been threatened by the committee if the Board refuses to grant an extension. 

Health committee chairman,  Mrs Denise Fitzsimons, said this week the extension is vital to allow the committee working party to prepare a full submission. 

“We will not be rushed on what are life and death issues for this community,” she said. “We have told the Board we need more time on certain issues and we have identified what those issues are.

“Our working party is hard at work and we have asked the Board for extra time to be allowed to make what will be a very detailed submission,” she added.

KILCOO – An SDLP councillor has appealed for urgent work to be carried out at a busy road on the outskirts of Kilcoo.

Mr Peter Fitzpatrick said this week that he is concerned that a serious traffic accident could occur on the Kilcoo to Hilltown Road unless immediate work is carried out.

The section for concern is near Fofanny School Road at  a sharp right had bend where a fence has been constructed to prevent people crashing off the road.

“But the problem is the lack of an adequate surface on the road which means that an average of three or four cars crash here every week,” explained Mr Fitzpatrick.

“Whenever the weather is either warm or damp the road surface simply cannot hold cars when they brake and what is needed is resurfacing.”

He also called on the Roads Service to make available the results of a study it has carried out on proposed improvements to the junction of the Fofanny School Road.

ARDGLASS – Work on a new £1m state-of-the-art fish processing factory for Ardglass is to proceed after all, it emerged this week.

Fears that plans by local businessman Mr Kenneth Kennedy to build the plant – the first of its kind in Ireland – at the village’s Strangford Road would not receive the backing of the local council, were dispelled after members met in special session on Monday evening.

They agreed by 16 votes to 3 to rubber-stamp the decision by the local planning authority to grant Mr Kennedy outline permission, despite vociferous objections by local residents who have vowed to continue the fight against the siting of the factory close to their homes.

And they have called a public meeting in the village’s Community Centre this Sunday evening at 8 pm to discuss their next move.

Last week, the council deferred planning approval but Mr Kennedy warned that he stood to loose half a million pounds in European Community grant-aid if it decided to veto the planners’ decision.

However, after being given the go-ahead for his factory on Monday evening, Mr Kennedy said his reaction to the decision was one of relief. He admitted that he always thought the application would be ratified by councillors, bearing in mind its implications for employment in the Ardglass area. 

“I was confident that Council would give the go-ahead,” he said. “The Government has spent almost £2m developing the harbour at Ardglass and it’s essential that there are adequate back-up services such as fish processing factories.”

NEWCASTLE – Work is expected to begin within the month on a massive upgrading of facilities at St Patrick’s Park, Newcastle – Down GAA’s showcase venue.

A new pavilion, costing in excess of £100,000, is to rise from the ashes of facilities which were destroyed in an arson attack three years ago.

The two storey building will provide the Bryansford club, owners of St Patrick’s Park, with the level of facilities which will secure its long term future as one Down’s two premier GAA grounds.

The club already has planning permission for two phases of the project and a further application to build a sports hall/gymnasium on the ground floor was lodged with the Planning Service this week.

A club spokesman confirmed yesterday that contracts for the first two phases have already gone out to tender and that work could begin next month.

The new building measures approximately 4,000 square feet. Downstairs facilities will include a foyer and reception area, changing rooms for players and match officials, stores and the sports hall.

The first floor will be used for social facilities. There are no plans, at present, for a bar.

The club is hoping the project will be completed in time for next season. “We do not anticipate any problems. We would like to have everything ready for next year,” the spokesman said.

Officials believe the scheme is vital to the club’s future. The blaze three years ago totally destroyed the social club and badly damaged the changing rooms.

Since then, the club has been using mobile changing rooms and committee meetings have been held in a local hotel.

“There is no doubt the fire was a tremendous blow to the club. We patched up what was left, but the present facilities are certainly not up to county standard,” the spokesman said.

“Being unable to capitalised on Down’s All-Ireland success last year was a big disappointment to everyone connected with the club. We are determined to put that right,” he added.

CASTLEWELLAN – Eight sculptures dotted around the lake at Castlewellan Forest Park were unveiled to the public at the launch of Northern Ireland’s first-ever sculpture trail on Sunday.

The three mile long trail is the result of three weeks of work by nine sculptors from across the European Community, brought together by the nation-wide European Arts Festival which is being staged to mark the UK’s presidency of the EC.

The nine artists come from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Holland and Greece. The project received backing from the Forestry Service of the Department of Agriculture, Down Council, the Arts Council and the Sculptors Society of Ireland.

The sculptures along the trail are all in natural materials sympathetic to the park and have been carefully site to emphasise some of the demesne’s most beautiful features. 

Michael Bulfin from Dublin has created an earthwork incorporating large boulders, reminiscent of megalithic sties, while Christos Alavera’s wooden dinosaur evokes thoughts of extinction and the current environmental crisis.

Dutch sculptors Paul Verhuist and Gerry Goosens’ joint piece uses a circular ‘temple’ and a ‘nest’ in the water to echo the beauty of its surrounding beech grove, and Betty Maguire from the Republic and Kathy Herbert from Northern Ireland both draw inspiration from the trees in the park.