From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 26, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, November 26, 1974

26 November 2014

CHRISTMAS TREES — Down District Council will not be erecting Christmas trees in any town this year, but they are offering a £15 ‘present’ to any community organisation prepared to undertake the task. The ‘present’ is by way of a grant towards the cost of a tree and its decoration, which councillors learned could amount to £150-200 per tree.

The decision was taken at this week’s meeting when members were discussing a request by the Rev. Norman Woodrow to erect a tree in Saintfield. On the chairman’s advice, members considered the request on a policy basis.

Suggestions ranged from supplying trees to every town to not supplying any at all, and the motion which finally won the day was supported by only seven of the eighteen members present.

Mr. Edward McGrady reminded councillors that a Christmas tree did not simply mean a fir tree, but a decorated fir tree and the cost would be high. Mr. Seamus Byrne, council clerk, said a tree would cost between £25-30, but with decorations the final amount would be between £150-200.

Mr. Cecil Maxwell suggested that trees should be erected in the three main shopping centres in the district – Downpatrick, Newcastle and Ballynahinch — and he told councillors they would be failing in their duty if this was not done.

Mr. W. J. Finlay said the people of Saintfield had struggled over the years to put up a tree in the town and he felt the council should help them. “If we supply the tree, they will erect it and supply the decorations.”

BALLYNAHINCH — Children at the Doctor Barnardo’s homes will be getting an extra boost this Christmas with the compliments of the 80-strong workforce at the Albion Clothing factory in Ballynahinch. The entire factory has played a part in gathering over £300 worth of new and not so new toys to send to the children this year.

The whole project started over five weeks ago, according to the factory’s manager, Mr. Hugh McAuley. One of the training instructors, Pamela Creighton, came up with the idea to keep Ballynahinch in line with the Albion’s factory in Belfast.

In all, the workforce has collected dolls, teddy bears, annuals, remote controlled cars and other toys from friends and relatives. Not content with that they had already gathered, a monetary collection for the purposes of buying more toys was arranged and the sum of £32.50 was realised.

Some of the girls went to the local shop of Stewart & Gibson where, according to Mr. McAuley, they good good value. No doubt the children will be thrilled on Christmas Day.

KILLOUGH — More than 1,000 acres of agricultural land near Killough will be vastly improved by a drainage scheme to be initiated as a result of Ulster Farmers’ Union pressure. The work will be undertaken by the Department of Agriculture.

The announcement has given many farmers immense satisfaction, but one important point remains unanswered: when will a start be made?

It is more than a year since the Union’s Downpatrick branch members made known the difficulties they face from the frequent flooding of low-lying land in the area around Strand Lough. 

The department’s officials said they could not do anything unless they had permission from the owner of the land. Branch members and officials got to work, ascertained ownership and eventually permission from the Killough Brick Company, now in the process of liquidation.

As of often occurs, departmental engineers had a difference of opinion with local farmer over how best to resolve the flooding problem. The engineers suggested an expensive scheme, involving pumping equipment. The farmers argued that simple restoration of the old tidal gates at the Strand Lough outlet, plus cleaning of the channel that leads back to the lake, would be all that was required.

They are convinced that this will go a great way towards reducing the level of the lough – and relieve the one thousand acres of the flooding which substantially reduces the land’s usefulness.

Now the engineers have agreed on a compromise. They are prepared to accept the farmers’ local knowledge, do as they are asked and judge the results after a winter’s wait. Now it’s all up to the departmental engineers to make a start.

BALLYKINLAR — A UDR unit using flares during a training session started a gorse fire at Ballykinlar on Saturday evening. Downpatrick fire brigade were called to the scene and they spent more than an hour extinguishing the blaze.

The local brigade were also called out on Monday when a car caught fire at Castlewellan Road, Clough. It is thought that a wiring defect started the fire which completely gutted the vehicle.

DOWNPATRICK — After more than a decade Downpatrick is still without its promised new police station. The promise has been repeated several times in recent years, but there has not been any indication of building work and this is causing considerable concern.

The former urban council made strenuous efforts to have the current Irish Street car park area cleared for a new police station in the early 1660s. For several years a notice indicated that the building was to be the new county headquarters. Plans were drawn up, referred to the police for their views and approved. The proposed new building was to have a helicopter pad on the roof.

Since then over sites have been considered, some of them outside the town. The most recent suggested location — the old jail adjoining the courthouse at the Mall — is still under consideration. Its suitability is understood to be opposed by architectural interests.

One fact is known: the new station will be of sub-divisional status as Newtownards is to be the new divisional headquarters.

LOUGH MANN — There are fears that Lough Mann, near Annacloy, may be the location for Northern Ireland’s new prison if opposition to the Maghaberry proposal succeeds.

Mr. James Molyneaux, leader of the UUUC politicians, is to press for a public inquiry into the government’s proposal to site the new prison in the Maghaberry area.

The 100-acre Lough Mann site has been sued by Shorts since it ceased to be a Royal Navy armament depot quite a few years ago. It is understood to have been one of 16 sites considered and the Rev. William Beattie, deputy leader of the DUP, wants the fullest possible details made known to Assembly members.

BALLYNAHINCH — A Ballynahinch man was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital after an incident in High Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. It is believed he had collected his wife, who works in a local hotel, when he attacked by six or seven persons. Police are appealing for information to help them in their inquiries.

DROMARA — The Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Rt. Rev. George Quin, dedicated a stained glass window in St. John’s Parish Church, Dromara, on Sunday. The window is a memorial to the late Mr. James Pollock, who was the church organist and choir master for 60 years.

SAINTFIELD — Colonel M. C. Perceval-Price presided at the inaugural lecture in Saintfield Secondary School of the recently formed Saintfield Heritage Society when the guest speaker was Mrs. Deirdre Flanagan, of the Department of Celtic Studies at Queen’s University, Belfast.

SEAFORDE — It’s certainly been a busy month for Seaforde Young Farmers. The club held its public speaking competition, which was judged by Mr. Oliver Priestly.

After that the club prepared for their annual concert last Thursday when they presented their Arts Festival production, Jamaica Rum.’ The concert proved a great success.