Newcastle sheltered housing project wins Best Kept prize

Newcastle sheltered housing project wins Best Kept prize

18 October 2017

WHILE not a single town or village in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area featured in the list of winners in this year’s prestigious Best Kept Awards, there was some local representation at the recent awards ceremony.

With the likes of Newcastle, Saintfield and Bryansford missing out, there was some good news for Donard Fold. Based at the Lawnfield area in Newcastle, offering apartment style accommodation specially designed for over 55s who want to live independently, the Fold won the best sheltered housing accommodation award.

Representatives from the Fold were at Belfast City Hall for the recent awards ceremony, with Des Neill, Jean Birch, Cheryl Foster, Peter Dunn and Maurice Ferris joined by senior officials from the Northern Ireland Amenity Council which runs the annual awards. They were with Housing Executive chairman, Clarke Bailie, and Amenity Council patron, Joe Mahon.

The awards were launched 60 years ago and to celebrate the anniversary of the competition, a tree has been presented to each council area.

Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews attended the recent ceremony at the City Hall to collect the tree presented to Newry, Mourne and Down Council and were joined by D J Morgan from the local authority’s parks department.

The tree presentation to each of the Province’s 11 councils is designed to maintain interest in the environment and civic pride which the annual awards encourage.

Councillor Walker said he hopes that local towns and villages will feature in next year’s awards and has no doubt they will redouble their efforts to be included among the winners.

“Securing a best kept award is a prestigious accolade and I hope to see local areas featuring in the 2018 winners’ list,” he said. “The awards acknowledge the commitment of communities towards the improvement and preservation of the natural and built environment.”