From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 6, 2000

From the pages of the Down Recorder, September 6, 2000

2 September 2020

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick’s Fountain Court flats are no more. Over the past three weeks, 36 flats and maisonettes have been put to the ground to pave way for a new £1m housing development which will transform the Fountain Street area of the town.

Three former blocks of flats will give way to 25 new town houses which Housing Executive officials are confident will form a superb new development.

They say the homes will complement the extensive regeneration work and environmental improvements which have been carried out over the past number of years to breathe new life into Downpatrick.

The new homes have been designed by a team of specialist architects and will replace a flats complex which the Housing Executive said was well past its sell-by-date.

In addition, housing chiefs say the new homes are more in keeping with the 21st century and that the Downpatrick development will be one of the most modern public sector schemes of its kind in the province.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch High School will soon be able to boast two new sports pitches.

They are currently being constructed as part of a £200,000 development programme close to its Belfast Road base.

Work has started to provide a new all-weather hockey pitch and a revolutionary sand mattress base rugby pitch, to meet the sports needs of the school’s several hundred students.

The move brings to an end years of tireless campaigning for new sports facilities by school officials and the board of governors, who have consistently lobbied education chiefs for cash to provide new sports pitches.

School principal, Mr. Maurice Doherty, says he is delighted the campaign to have new sports pitches has been successful and says the construction work marks a significant step forward for Ballynahinch High.

He explained the all-weather pitch should be ready for use before the end of the year, while the new rugby pitch will not stage its first match until September next year. 

NEWCASTLE — A powerful Down Council committee has given its backing to plans to construct an indoor leisure complex in Newcastle’s Donard Park.

Members of the Client Services Committee has agreed that the council, which own Donard Park, should allow the ultra-modern pool complex to be constructed within its grounds.

The decision came after the Newcastle 2000 community group produced a feasibility study pin-poining Donard Park as the ideal location.

Councillors and officials at Tuesday night’s Client Services meeting agreed the multi-million pound centre would draw more visitors into Donard Park without taking up an excessive amount of parkland.

Newcastle 2000’s feasibility study concluded that if Down Council is willing to make the site available for development, the centre would be constructed in the park. The recommendation of the Client Services Committee will now go before a full council meeting.

CLOUGH — A visitors’ centre outlining the history of Clough’s mediaeval castle would encourage holidaymakers to stop in the village, according to members of the local community association.

Members of the group are keen to increase the profile of Clough by tidying up the area over the next 10 years.

This association, which was set up four years ago, has been working earnestly towards a bringer future for the area, and as the Down 2010 project unfolds, members have put together a string of goals they are determined to reach.

The possible introduction of a visitors’ centre is one idea members are considering as a means of fixing their village on the tourist trail.

With the heavy flow of people from Belfast and North Down passing through the village each weekend, association members are convinced a visitors’ centre would encourage them to stop for a visit.

But derelict buildings currently dot the streets of Clough, and the association is keen to see these renovated as a first step towards improving the overall appearance of the area. 

ARDGLASS —  The future of Ardglass festival topped the agenda at a special meeting in the village’s community centre last night.

The talks came just over a month after it was confirmed that the annual festival had been cancelled for the first time in 30 years.

Last night, festival officials were hoping local people would turn out in force to ensure next year’s even will go ahead as planned.

The annual festival in the village, is renowned for its fun-packed line-up of on and offshore events since its launch in the late 1960s.

DARRAGH CROSS — Residents from Darragh Cross and the surrounding area came together last week to form the hamlet’s first community association.

Over 30 people attended Tuesday night’s meeting to adopt a constitution and elect a committee which is make up of eight members of a steering committee, set up in June, plus representatives from the local mother and toddler group and GAA club.

The chairperson for the evening was Deborah Boden, of the East Down Rural Community Network, who outlined some of the initial plans for the area, including carrying out a community audit later this year to highlight which local people feel is needed in the community.

TYRELLA — A Down councillor has called for the removal of a ‘no admittance’ sign from the entrance gates to Tyrella beach which he believes deters visitors from enjoying the attraction in the evening.

Loughinisland councillor Patsy Toman, said the sign which was erected to prevent people from driving on to the beach and holding rave parties after-hours, give the impression the pedestrians are not welcome to walk down to the beach.

“We should be careful about how we tell the public there is no admittance to the property. We need to point out that although the car park is closed in the evenings, visitors are welcome to walk down into the area from the road.’’

Council chairman Albert Colmer said many visitors were being forced to risk their personal safety because of overcrowding at the amenity car park on hot summer days.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar’s new community woodland is now open. Located at the Glasswater Road, on the outskirts of the village, the project has been funded by the Millennium Commission, NIE, Down Council, Forest Service and the Environment and Heritage Service.

The woodland is one of 50 planned for the Province and although there was an enthusiastic response from local people when details of the project were made public at the start of the year, key financial support has since tailed off.

As a result, Woodland Trust officials have confirmed they have not been able to put the finishing touches to the ambitious project.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy Presbyterian Church’s annual harvest fair and flower show on Saturday was a blooming success once again. 

The church hall was a sea of colour and the judges had a difficult time choosing between the various excellent exhibits. 

SOCCER — Two Irish internationals made it a night of celebrations and nostalgia as Killyleagh YC marked the 40th anniversary of its foundation at the weekend.

Saturday night’s glittering event at Downpatrick Cricket Club opened with the 200 guests giving a standing ovation to the two YC old boys, former Middlesborough star Terry Cochrane and current Manchester United starlet David Healy, as they walked into the anniversary 

dinner.

They were introduced by current YC manager Dee Heron and their appearance underlined the considerable pride the club feels that it can boast two internationals when few other Amateur League clubs are fortunate to produce even one.

The two surviving founder officials, Billy Ferris and Jim Farson, were joined by players and officials from each of the late four decades. 

The club played its first competitive game in the South Belfast League in September 1960. The founding officials were Sam McCullough, Barlo Matthews, Gerry Green, Frank Houston, the Rev J C Boggs, Billy Ferris and Jim Farson.