From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 28, 1979

From the pages of the Down Recorder, August 28, 1979

28 August 2019

BALLYNAHINCH — A young Ballynahinch family’s seven-month ordeal ended yesterday — only hours after the Down Recorder took up their case.

That’s how long the McGrory family have been waiting for a new fireplace in the living room of their Housing Executive house at Windmill Gardens.

After such a long wait, workmen finally arrived out yesterday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the Recorder had contacted Housing Executive headquarters about the situation.

The problems for the family started three years ago when their fireplace broke up. Housing Executive workmen carried out repairs, but seven months ago the fireplace again broke up. Since then repeated calls to the Executive met with little or no response.

“With winter fast coming we needed this fireplace fixed,” said Mr Terry McGrory. “During the summer months we managed to make do, but there’s no way we could face cold nights without a fire in our living room.

“Since February we’ve had to do without a fire and it was beginning to look like it wouldn’t be fixed at all. We’ve called on the Housing Executive numerous times and used up all the repair forms at the back of our rent book, but still no-one had it fixed.”

Mrs Mildred Terry was equally unhappy. “The last time they came to fix the fireplace three years ago, they simply pushed it back against the wall and plastered it over the wallpaper which we had just put on,” she said.

“It became a big nuisance having to hope that friendly neighbours would help us wash our clothes and provide us with baths, because we were unable to heat our water by the use of the fire.”

BISHOPSCOURT — Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the death of an RAF sergeant at Bishopscourt last Tuesday evening. The sergeant was seen running into bushes at the camp and two shots were heard. He was found later with two gunshot wounds to the head. The man’s name is not being released until the next of kin have been informed.

CASTLEWELLAN — The people of Castlewellan paid tribute to one of their doctors, who retired recently, with a special presentation variety concert in St Malachy’s High School last Tuesday night.

Dr Brendan Moore, who first came to the town in 1946, received several gifts from the people after many of the town’s top entertainers had put on a rousing concert on his behalf.

Dr Moore set up his practice in Upper Square, but later moved to there present residence in Circular Road where he continued to give his valuable help.

Mr Patrick McAleenan, principal of St Malachy’s High School, introduced the presentations. Mrs Josephine King, on behalf of the people, presented Dr Moore with an inscribed watch and a cheque and Mrs Moore with an inscribed watch, while Miss Una Hardy presented Mrs Moore with a bouquet of flowers.

Dr Moore thanked everyone for their generosity and stressed how much he had enjoyed practising in the Castlewellan area for so many years.

SAINTFIELD — Residents beside a quarry near Saintfield who frequently had windows broken in their homes when blasting took place had their grievances aired at a recent meeting of Castlereagh Borough Council.

A local councillor, Mr J A Lowe, raised complaints of householders whose windows are shattered by blasting at Lisdoonan Quarry.

Mr Lowe said residents had suffered from broken windows and undue noise on many occasions. He wanted to know if planning permission covered the size of explosives used in the quarry.

He was told that 15 conditions were attached to the planning permission, covering such issues as the size of explosive charges and the permitted distance from the nearest dwellings. 

KILLYLEAGH — Work on a major housing redevelopment programme in Killyleagh is in danger of grinding to a halt. Speculation is mounting that the main contractors are getting ready to pull out because of unpaid bills by the Housing Executive.

Ten houses which have been virtually complete for six months are still lying idle because minor sub-contract work has not been started. Ten families, who were told last December that new homes would be ready by February, are still waiting and the situation is fast becoming a deadlock.

The £1m redevelopment scheme at Irish Street was to have been a Housing Executive showpiece. Work began on building 103 new homes in two phases in 1977. The scheme had been designed to “retain the character and charm of Killyleagh”, transforming the old houses into modern housing for some 400 people.

The Housing Executive have flatly refused to comment on the latest developments at the site and they will not go into the many complaints, except to admit that there are problems at the site.

Three weeks ago a major row erupted all over the province when a dispute in the Executive’s finance department caused a backlog of payments to dozens of small construction firms.

DOWNPATRICK — A group of residents in the Flying Horse housing estate in Downpatrick are campaigning for proper dustbins to be provided.

At present residents are supplied with paper bags which they say are too small and do not hold any great weight of refuse. They cannot be use for ashes, which residents must pile up in their back gardens.

Their campaign has been taken up by Mr Raymond Blaney, of Republican Clubs the Workers’ Party. “When it rains heavily the bags fall apart and the rubbish is scattered all over the place. Often dogs tear the bags apart with the same results,” he said.

“The Flying Horse residents are at a loss to know why Model Farm, a much more recent estate, is supplied with proper metal dustbins while they must do with a totally inadequate paper bag system.”

STRANGFORD — The first ever Strangford Festival went down a smash hit success and the town vibrated with fun and laughter over four days.

The festival kicked off on Friday evening with a band parade and carried over the whole bank holiday weekend, culminating with a dance on Monday. The Festival Queen was 22 year-old Colette Masterson, from Coney Island, Ardglass.

Events over the four days included a five-a-side football, children’s fancy dress, junior showtime, tug of war, darts finals, egg and spoon races, a barbecue and gymkhana.

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle Technical School was a hive of industry on Saturday morning — not with students returning a week early to their studies, but with exhibitors making their plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables ready for the judges at Newcastle and District Horticultural Society’s fourth annual show.

The competition was extremely keen in each class and it is to the credit of the members of the society that they have established such an interesting and colourful show in such a short time.

PORTAFERRY — There have been several inquiries, but no firm offers for the Portaferry Hotel, which is up for sale. The estate agents, Sidney Mawhinney in Lisburn, remained tight-lipped about the price which the hotel, one of the province’s leading waterfront inns, is expected to fetch.

GAA — Ballycran regained the Down senior hurling title with a 0-14 to 0-4 victory over Ballygalget at St Patrick’s Park, Portaferry on Sunday.

It was Ballycran’s 12th victory and although the final scoreline would suggest they had an easy passage it would not be entirely indicative of Ballygalget’s fine performance.

But for two brilliant saves by Ballycran keeper Noel Keith, the winning margin would have been much smaller.