From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 27, 1979

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 27, 1979

27 February 2019

DOWNPATRICK — The Department of the Environment’s Roads Division warned yesterday that staff cutbacks could substantially delay two new major schemes in Downpatrick.

Divisional Roads boss Mr J D Kirk admitted that several proposed schemes will be hit, including a car park in the Irish Street/Market Street area of Downpatrick and a realignment programme for Saul Street and Scotch Street.

Mr Kirk claims that he does not have a large enough supervisory staff to carry out work which has been programmed.

Mr Kirk stressed that the cutbacks could not have come at a worse time when the Roads Service is under heavy pressure to complete schemes and also to start several others which are in the pipeline.

He explained that the long-awaited new £60,000 car park for Downpatrick now seemed certain to run into further difficulties and that the realignment programme will suffer from the staff shortages.

Downpatrick councillors have hit out at the threat of further delays to local schemes. Cllr George Flinn was particularly outraged. “I am amazed to hear of this and deplore any delays in schemes that should have been completed a long time ago.,” he said.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch Chamber of Commerce are to continue their efforts to have the town’s police station opened full time.

The Chamber’s executive committee, who met recently, discussed an acknowledgment from RUC headquarters, saying they would look at the possibility. The committee agreed to pursue the matter.

At the same meeting members expressed pleasure at the announcement that the Department of the Environment intend spending £20,000 on improved lighting in the town, but they showed deep concern over the Department of Education’s decision not to provide a swimming pool for the town.

Already local schools are up in arms about the decision, as the pool would have provided swimming facilities for over 2,000 pupils. However, the Chamber intend to follow it up and are to invite representatives of the various schools to meet them in April to discuss the situation.

DRUMAGHLIS — The future of Drumaghlis Primary School is causing problems for the South Eastern Education and Library Board. The Department of Education haven’t yet disclosed their intentions, in spite of having been told of strong feeling that it should not be closed.

Mrs Ethel Smyth, a member of the maintained schools committee, was irritated by the lack of information from the Department.

She said the school had 42 pupils and assumed maintained status in January of last year. In June members of the committee requested financial help from the Department to modernise the toilets abed were concerned to receive a letter asking their views on the school’s future.

Mrs Smyth said that parents of children attending the school were totally opposed to its closure in view of the long distances by the pupils would have to travel to other schools.

KILLYLEAGH — An emergency meeting of Killyleagh Young Farmers’ Club was held in the town’s Masonic hall this week.

Twenty-six people were present, including a representative from YFC headquarters. The meeting was chaired by Mr Denis McAuley, from Downpatrick YFC. A lengthy and informative discussion took place during which many helpful points were raised regarding the future of the club.

The election of the senior officials and office bearers was completed and all posts were filled. Finally, after the interest shown in the club at the emergency meeting, members stressed that the look forward to a very successful year.

STRANGFORD — The Department of Environment has proposed that crossing fares for the Strangford ferry should be increased.

Ards Borough councillors were told this week that the Downpatrick DoE office, which administers the ferry, has recommended that fees should be increased in line with the rising costs of operating the service.

If a new increase is implemented, it will mean that a passenger will pay 15p to use the ferry between Strangford and Portaferry instead of the present rate of 10p. The new cost for a motorcycle will be 25p instead of 20p; car fares will go up to 60p from 40p; vehicles up to two tons will pay £1 — an increase of 25p; and vehicles up to five tons will pay £2 instead of £1.50.

A letter to the council said that the Department believed that it was better to introduce “modest annual increases” rather than larger ones every few years. Councillors decided to consider the matter fully and to write to the Department expressing their views.

NEWCASTLE — Mr Dermot Patrick Herlighy (57), of Clontarf, Dublin, died suddenly at Royal County Down Golf Club on Saturday morning from a coronary attack.

The deceased was a member of the Irish international golfing party who were practising on the course at the weekend.

BALLYGOWAN — Residents in Ballygowan have called for the removal of a water booster generator near the town which has created a traffic hazard for more than a year.

The problem relates to huge booster which was erected on a bend on the Carrickmannon Road to increase pressure in the water supply for parts of the area.

Local councillor Jim McBriar says he wants the generator removed before it causes a serious accident.

“This booster may be serving a need until a proper replacement is provided, but local people want it removed because it is hazardous,” he said.

A spokesman for the Water Service said they had very little power in the situation. “We asked the Northern Ireland Electricity Service some time ago to provide a temporary booster until the water situation was sorted out,” he said.

“However, it has been there for more than 16 months now and it should it up to them to remove it.”

Initially, the generator was only meant to operate temporarily, but now local people fear that it may stay there indefinitely.

KILLINCHY — Mr Tom Pendry, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office with responsibility for Agriculture, visited Cuan Sea Fisheries Ltd, near Killinchy, on Saturday.

Dr Jasper Parsons, general manager of Cuan Sea Fisheries, met Mr Pendry, and led him on a conducted tour of the oyster farm.

Cuan Sea Fisheries, which employs a staff of eight, was established six years ago on the shores of Strangford Lough. Pacific oysters, imported as seed from hatcheries in England, are reared in the lough on trays and in nets.

Interest in oyster farming grew in Northern Ireland in 1973 after successful experimental work by the Department of Agriculture’s Fisheries Division which showed that the Pacific oyster could thrive in Strangford Lough.

CARRYDUFF — Plans are being drawn up for a new pedestrian crossing scheme in Carryduff.

Residents in the area have been pressing for a controlled crossing system with traffic lights for some time and at last it looks s through work is in the pipeline.

Members of Castlereagh Borough Council heard that there are plans for crossings on the Ballynahinch Road, Church Street and the Hillsborough Road.

BALLYKINLAR — Downpatrick firemen answered a call to a gorse fire at Ballykinlar Camp on Saturday. Approximately six acres of gorse had been extinguished on arrival.

CASTLEWELLAN — The game fishing season begins shortly, but anglers wishing to use Castlewellan Lake will have to wait another month.

Although the Department of Agriculture have 51 game and mixed fisheries to offer anglers, 12, including Castlewellan, will not open until April 1 to facilitate spring stocking.

Already an experiment to test various methods of stocking is being conducted in Castlewellan Lake. This involves the tagging of a large number of fish.

SPA — A capacity audience filled Ballynahinch High School’s assembly hall to see Spa Young Farmers’ Club’s presentation of George Shiels’ evergreen comedy play, The New Gossoon.

The cast did the author and themselves proud with their presentation. So well received was the play that inquiries are already being made with regard to taking it on a short local tour. The play was produced by Mr Cecil Orr, the club president.