DOWNPATRICK — Sixteen years ago more than half of Downpatrick’s houses were considered unfit for human habitation. Since then the local council have carried out a number of redevelopment and building schemes and now it is estimated that only seven per cent of the town’s dwellings are unsatisfactory.
This was stated by the town clerk, Mr. Maurice N. Hayes, at the urban council’s annual meeting last night when he gave a review of housing achievements.
Mr. Hayes said the council had provided for renting a total of 755 dwellings, about 60 per cent of the houses in the town. These had been located in small and medium sized estates in all parts of the town and the average rent was £1.32 per week.
All houses recently built by the council were fitted with central heating and the council were at present engaged in providing children’s play areas at all their estates.
Major development schemes had been carried out in Fountain Street/John Street and Bridge Street and small schemes in Saul Street and Lower John Street. Proposals were also well advanced for the redevelopment of Lower Saul Street, Upper Scotch Street and New Bridge Street.
BALLYNAHINCH — “The security situation is not improving, and it is not improving because regrettably the British Government is operating a new security policy in Northern Ireland,” Mr. Brian Faulkner, leader of the Unionist Party stated in a meeting held in Ballynahinch Orange Hall on Thursday night.
The meeting was organised by the Ballynahinch, Spa, Dunmore and Drumaness branches of the East Down Unionist Association and also present was an English Conservative MP, Mr. John Biggs-Davison.
Mr. Faulkner, making his first local address since returning from a three-week holiday, told a large gathering that troops in Northern Ireland were now working under new directives. “It is quite clear to me these directives are giving encouragement to the men of violence,” he said.
Mr. Faulkner said he was not prepared to engage in petty criticism of the Secretary of State, Mr. William Whitelaw, and his colleagues, of petty carping about the security situation. “But we want to to bring up families here and see the country prosper in peace.”
NEWCASTLE — Newcastle’s four seasonal traffic wardens take up duty in the town’s streets on Monday morning. And Chief Inspector Robert Smyth has made an appeal for public co-operation.
He emphasised that the restricted parking regulations did not mean that the town’s byelaws were suspended. Attended vehicles can be left in the zone, but motorists must comply with the time limits laid down. “We have had the public’s assistance in the past, and we hope that this year will see a continuance of their co-operation,” said Newcastle’s RUC chief.
CASTLEWELLAN — Newcastle police are investigating a theft of money from Mr. R. Perry, an insurance agent, of Drumnaquoile, Castlewellan. Mr. Perry’s car was stolen, but the vehicle was recovered undamaged at Downs Road, Newcastle, on Sunday morning.
BALLYKINLAR — An efficient modern fighting machine — that was the objective when the Ulster Defence Regiment was formed two years ago. This week the Press were shown just how far the part-time force has progressed into a tightly knit, well equipped and enthusiastic outfit.
Under the command of Colonel Dion Beard, men from the East Down area have been getting down to stiff training during their annual seven-day camp. When we looked in on Monday at Ballykinlar we found it difficult to pick out the grocers, labourers and clerks from the troops of the regular British Army force. They looked smart and efficient, and their equipment was obviously the best.
A proud Colonel Beard said recruiting had leapt by about 300 men in the past year, bring the total strength to 700. But how about their morale. “Each man has become more determined,” the C.O. said. “They are not going to let the violence continue.”
CARRYDUFF — Security forces used a bazooka to set fire to a car suspected of containing a bomb on the Carryduff-Saintfield road on Monday night. Although the alert was a false alarm, the vehicle did not display a tax disc, registration number of chassis number.
SAINTFIELD — At a recent meeting of officer bearers and delegates of the Saintfield branch of the East Down Unionist Association, Mr. William J. Finlay was selected as the candidate for the Saintfield division in the forthcoming local government elections in October. Mr. Finlay has represented the Leggygowan division of East Down Rural Council for 20 years.
KILLINCHY — Six members of Killinchy YFC travelled to Markethill last Friday to compete in the annual stock-judging competition organised by Collone YFC and when the results were announced Killinchy kept County Down well to the fore.
In the confined class, open only to members under 25, Martin Baxter scored the highlight of the evening by gaining first place and winning the Fane Valley Co-operative Society’s Perpetual Challenge Cup. In the 25-28 class, Ian Morrison and Francis Dickson gained second team award.
DOWNPATRICK — Over 500 people filled St. Patrick’s Hall, Downpatrick, on Wednesday night to hear Josef Locke, the evergreen Irish tenor, who was making his first appearance, direct from the Olympia Theatre, Dublin. Presented by the St. Patrick’s Choral Society, he rendered a varied and entertaining selection of songs, some old, some new, and as ever, ‘The Soldier’s Farewell.’