From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 19, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, July 19, 1977

19 July 2017

DOWNPATRICK — Parcel-laden housewives on Downpatrick’s Model Farm estate are feeling a lot less weary these days. Their new-found energy saver is the new town bus service which started on July 4.

No longer will they have to endure aching ankles after a day’s shopping in Downpatrick because the regular service will speed them from the town centre to the heart of the estate. The service operates from Monday to Satureay and fares for adults and children are 11p and 6p respectively.

Public response has been good so far, but Ulsterbus expect it to improve greatly in the future. They say it is the wrong time of the year to judge fairly. When people return from holidays and the summer season is over the full success of the service will be seen.

Mr Cunningham, manager or the Downpatrick depot, says: “Obviously the service is not getting a fair trial at the moment because of the time of the year, but we will review the response to it in future.

“The new service was essential with the build-up of the estate. Now the public have got what they asked for and we hope that everyone will ultimately benefit from the service.”

The new service has obviously gone down well with the residents of the Model Farm. One woman we found boarding the bus with a heavy bag of shopping said: “It’s terrific. It saves me a long walk every time I come to town. The new bus leaves me just across the road from my house.”

Another lady passenger agreed: “We used to get other buses going out the road, but the new service is far handier. It leaves us right in the middle of the estate.”

KILLOUGH — The newly-elected Killough Village Committee is taking a firm stand to protect the natural beauty of the area. One of their main objectives concerns stopping the removal of sand, shingle and stones from the shoreline.

The committee feels that this practice will eventually cause considerable damage to the road at Fisherman’s Row, to the pier and to the beach. Erosion caused by this large scale is evident at the moment and will become more obvious if it is not stopped.

The committee is also worried about potential pollution problems and the risk to health. Many people bathe in the area and are worried about the possible risk of disease caused by raw sewage.

The health authorities have already been informed about the matter and are carrying out investigations which include the clinical analysing of water samples.

NEWCASTLE — Crowds of over 50,000 lined Newcastle’s streets on Saturday to watch the town’s colourful festival parade of bands and floats. In dazzling sunshine the parade of 40 items, led by Attical Accordian Band, marched along Main Street and Central Promenade to Donard Park where the judging took place.

The winning float was ‘The Knights of the Round Table’ designed by Newcastle Round Tablers, The judges, Mr Gerry Annesley, Mr James Hawthrone and Mrs Anne Davey, awarded second prize  to a composite float from Bryansford, while third prize went to Down Council’s Sweet Heart of Down float. Newcastle Fire Brigade were also highly commended for their float and Newcastle Girl Guides’ Elizabethan float showed great ingenuity.

As well as the floats there were a number of other attractions in the parade, not least of which was Miss Newcastle, Pat Magee, who drove in a gig provided by David Ramsden. There were also vintage cars, of which the judge, Fred Wadsworth, chose that belonging to Mr John Fox, of Warrenpoint, to be the winner.

SAINTFIELD — A dramatic last minute move by Down councillors to stop the completion of a partially built factory in Saintfield has produced a head-on clash with the planners — and the outcome will provide a clear indication of how much say the council has in this field.

The council challenge came when members branded the factory as an “expensive mistake” and unanimously called for it to be torn down and rested. Their call is in direct conflict with the opinion of the local planning office who recommended that the new factory be allowed to go ahead.

Work on the factory shell stopped in April when it was discovered that it had been built more than six feet higher than planning permission allowed.

There was an enormous outcry at the time from councillors and from the residents of Windmill Hollow, a small cul-de-sac just yards away from the factory site.

CROSSGAR — A two-way pull over housing development in Killyleagh Street, Crossgar, may well result in no homes being built. Both the Housing Executive and the owner of the three-acre site, Mrs Jean Montgomery, have received outline planning permission to build houses there.

It was the Housing Executive who first showed interest in using the site to build 40 new houses. However, residents in a neighbouring private housing development approached Mrs Montgomery and asked her to do something to prevent the Executive from building so close to their homes.

“If the land has to be sold it will benefit more from a private development rather than a public one,” Mrs Montgomery said.

PORTAFERRY — It’s Gala Week again in Portaferry and, as usual, the normally sober and industrious residents are going slight mad. The week kicked off on Sunday night when a treasure hunt was held for both young and old throughout the village.

The superstars sporting competition took place on the village football field on Monday night and the fifteen entrants were watched by some 600 spectators. On Tuesday night the Quinn Bros shop in the Square was the venue for the motor trials and last night the bonny babies and glamorous grannies were vying for the prizes.

Gala Week rounds off on Friday night with the adults’ and children’s fancy dress competitions, followed by the gala float parade.

DUNDRUM — The old walls of Dundrum Castle echoed to laughter and sounds of fun when the village sports committee held their annual garden fete on Saturday. Around 1,500 people attended the fete during the afternoon and helped raise over £800 towards the new playing fields for Dundrum.

The fete was opened by UTV personality Leslie Dawes, who also helped judge the bonny babies competition which was won by Tony Atkins, who was on holiday from England with his parents.

Mr George McFadden, treasurer of Dundrum Sports Committee, said that the fete was so successful that they hope to hold a similar one next year.

CASTLEWELLAN — Crowds of up to 15,000 people thronged into Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday to enjoy the annual horse and agricultural show. Prize money of £3,000 attracted more entries than ever before.

Throughout the day there were 13 rings in operation for the showing and testing of cattle and horses. The showing of young horses attracted a very large entry.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass Angling Association entertained 61 anglers to a day’s deep sea angling competition. The anglers were taken four miles off the coast and although only a small amount of fish were caught, visiting anglers assured the organisers of the success or the competition in terms of enjoyment.

The competition was sponsored by Down District Council and the prizes were presented by Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton, the council chairman.

KILLYLEAGH — A lifetime’s ambition and five years of hard work were finally rewarded at the weekend for Killyleagh Yacht Club member Mr Dick Bolster when he watched proudly as his dream boat slid into the water at Killyleagh harbour.

The launching of the vessel completes the first stage of his long-held ambition to build a luxury yacht and cruise the west coast of Scotland.