DOWNPATRICK — Work is to begin in two months’ time on three factories at the Flying Horse estate on the outskirts of Downpatrick – and they are expected to be ready for tenancy at the end of the year.
The factories are being provided by LEDU and are timed to coincide with a massive LEDU drive in Downpatrick aimed at finding new businesses and enterprises in the locality. There will be two small 100 sq metre factories and a larger 300 sq metre factory, capable of producing at least 30 new jobs.
News of the development was announced this week by LEDU manager Ton Short, who said that tender documents were already being drawn up.
Mr Short promised that if these factories can be filled, his organisation will push for more as soon as possible.
“We are trying to generate interest in the Down area for this type of venture because although we believe there is potential in the Downpatrick area, enquiries from there have always been poor,” he said.
“We will of course accept any suitable tenant from outside the area, but we are hoping to see the establishment of locally-based concerns by local people.”
Down Council chairman Eddie McGrady described his reaction to the news as one of satisfaction and said it was the culmination of a concerted effort to have smaller units available for occupation in Downpatrick.
EDENDARRIFF — A dairy firm’s plans to build a store at Edendarriff, outside Ballynahinch, have been knocked on the lead by local planners.
The firm, which supplies dairy foodstuffs all over Northern Ireland, could pack up and move to Portadown, taking with it eight jobs which are currently available to local men.
Express Dairy (Foods) Ltd are currently operating on a temporary basis in a yard at the rear of the Travellers’ Friend, but their plans for a cold store, canopy, toilet and plant room have been turned down.
The planners say the commercial development proposed would be out of place in the rural scene and if it was allowed it would be a precedent for further commercial development on similar lines in the open country.
Local councillor Patrick Forde does not agree with the planners’ reasoning. He told a meeting of Down councillors this week that the development would take place in an existing yard behind a high wall.
“If this is turned down the firm will be going to Portadown and the jobs will be lost,” he said.
Drumaness councillor Jim Magee pointed out that there was already commercial development in the area.
NEWCASTLE — The press officer for the local branch of the Approved Driving Instructors Association has supported moves to introduce compulsory wearing of seat belts to the province.
Mr Sean Boden, from Newcastle, has supported the moves following a referendum of all local branches of the Association and an official statement on the subject has been issued.
It states: “The Approved Driving Instructors Association of Northern Ireland wishes it to be known that its membership strongly advocate the wearing of seat belts by drivers and front seat passengers.
“With only minor reservations regarding the categories under consideration for exemption, this Association is in favour of seat belt legislation.”
KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh, Shrigley and District Town Committee held two meetings last month and on both occasions various problems affecting the area were discussed.
At the first meeting the new chairman, Mr W Maguire, received unanimous support for a vote of thanks to two outgoing officers, Col Rowan-Hamilton and Mr M Porter, who had both served for seven years.
It was stated that street lighting in Irish Street was almost non-existent and members said the street constituted a serious hazard, particularly to old people.
Concern was also expressed about the dangerous state of the footpaths between Killyleagh and Shrigley and at Cuan Beach. It was also noted that a telephone box at the Toye had vanished after being damaged in an accident.
PORTAFERRY — Moves by the Department of the Environment to increase fares for the Strangford Ferry now seem certain to come against a wall of fierce protest.
Battle lines are already being drawn by various local bodies who are angry at the DoE Road Service’s recent proposals to put up the ferry fares in a bid to combat rising costs of operating the service.
Both Ards Borough Council and Down Council have been informed of the proposals and have hit out at the Road Service’s intentions.
The announcement has also met a stormy reaction from the Portaferry and District Development Association.
The Assocation has adamantly recommended that the proposals should be rejected and has called for an emergency meeting with all interested parties in St Columba’s High School later this week.
A spokesman for the Association stressed that local people on both sides of the lough have been enraged by the proposals and that there is a possibility that support may be called upon from South Down MP Enoch Powell, North Down MP Jim Kilfedder and Lord Dunleath, the Ballywalter peer.
BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch piper Ian Jess added another trophy to his ever increasing collection when he pipped current All-Ireland champion Tom Anderson, from Dublin, in a play-off for the solo championship at Dungannon on Saturday.
Ian, the current Ulster senior solo champion, finished level with his All-Ireland champion counterpart, but took the title on the play-off march, strathspey and reel programme.
And Ian wasn’t the only Ballynahinch piper to triumph at the competition. Four other young pipers finished in the prize list, with one, Paul Herron, winning outright in his section.
Richard Parkes, from Field Marshal Montgomery, the Carryduff-based band, was third in the strathspey and reel section. A newcomer to the ranks, he also won the open jig competition.
COMBER — Comber Town Committee has decided to draw up a petition in a bid to pressurise the GPO to improve postal facilities in the town.
The committee is calling on the support of all local people and arrangements are being made for members to be stationed around the town with petition forms on a publicised day in the near future.
The controversy began when the old sub-office closed down and a new one opened in Bridge Street. The new post office shared by a fancy goods and confectionary shop and many people in Comber feel that the town is large enough to have a proper office.
People have complained that they have trouble getting into the post office, especially on busy days when the front area is blocked by customers buying goods at the confectionary store.
KILLINCHY — The Bishop Hall was filled to capacity on Friday when Killinchy Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church held a social evening.
The highlight of the evening was Killinchy Drama Group’s comedy, ‘Stymied’. The Drama Group is only in its second year and it to their credit that the acting was of such a high standard. The cast was Richard Stewart, Alberta McKeown, Angela Kenmore, Brian Price, Ernest Kenmore, Sylvia Cassidy and Margaret Gibson.
CROSSGAR — The prize for the best puppy at the recent Ulster Cocker Club show in Belfast was awarded to Miss Madam, owned by Mrs A Spratt, of Church Road, Crossgar.
RACING — The Ulster Harp National run at Downpatrick last Wednesday was won by an outsider, Miss Leap. The National was the highlight of the well-attended meeting and it gave trainer Sye Kirk and rider Tommy Finn their biggest success to date.