Newcastle Wastewater Works Upgrade Announced
NI Water unveiled its plans for a £7million upgrade to Newcastle Wastewater Treatment Works during a stakeholder presentation and open public information event in Newcastle Leisure Centre.
Programmed to get underway in January 2012, the improvements will see the installation of modern new treatment processes which will benefit the seaside town and meet future EU directives by May 2013.
Read more: Newcastle Wastewater Works Upgrade Announced
More Rural Development Funding On Offer In Down
A new round of funding for rural development projects has opened in Down. In the latest call for financial applications to help improve the quality of life in rural communities, the Down Rural Area Partnership (DRAP) is inviting local people across the Down, Banbridge, Ards and North Down areas to submit project proposals under two of its six themes – diversification into non-agriculture activity and business creation and development.
Read more: More Rural Development Funding On Offer In Down
Downpatrick Bad Romance Seminar Attended By Education Minister
THE South East Domestic Violence Partnership (SEDVP) in conjunction with the Down District Community Safety Partnership held the Bad Romance seminar in The St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick today (Wednesday 23rd November). The seminar explored the issue of abuse in young people's romantic relationships.
At the event, post-primary school pupils across the district were given recognition for participating in the healthy relationships poster competition which aimed to raise awareness of the domestic violence issue.
Read more: Downpatrick Bad Romance Seminar Attended By Education Minister
Remembrance Sunday
REMEMBRANCE Sunday is a special day when many paid tribute to those who have fallen in the two great wars in the Twentieth Century and in more recent times.
The main celebration is at the Cenotaph in London, but across the country in provincial towns, ordinary people from all walks of life gathered to pay their respects.
In Downpatrick the parade mustered at The Mall in front of Down Cathedral and marched to the War Memorial at the bottom of the Strangford Road where a short ecumenical service took place.
Read more: Remembrance Sunday
Help Billy Douglas Walk
An everyday trip to the play park in Comber is not without its trials for little three-year-old Billy Douglas writes Anne O'Hare.
Billy Douglas crawls through the tunnel at the local playpark in Comber. As he excitedly hoists himself onto the new disabled swing recently installed there, Billy belies the struggle which accompanies his condition known as Cerebral Palsy.
Read more about: Billy Douglas from Comber
Hamilton Says Retail Is Big Key To Economic Regeneration
Posted by Jim Masson On November - 1 - 2011
STRANGFORD MLA Simon Hamilton has told the Retail NI Conference that the retail sector will play an important role in regenerating the local economy.
Speaking at the conference at the Stormont Hotel, Simon Hamilton, who is the Assembly Private Secretary to the Finance Minister, said, “I think that sometimes retail is viewed unfairly as inferior to all other forms of employment and that it’s contribution to the economy is second rate to say manufacturing.
“What is often overlooked is the sheer size of the retail sector in Northern Ireland. Some 18% of all employees work in retail related companies while nearly 9% of all businesses are retail ones. A sector that size can in no way be described as second rate.
Call For Books For Castleward Book Fair
Posted by Jim Masson On November - 1 - 2011
DO you have piles of old books in your home?
Why not donate them and help raise funds for the upkeep of one of Northern Ireland’s finest historic houses and scenic countryside estates?
Castle Ward by the shores of Strangford Lough, just outside Downpatrick, is appealing once again for your generous support and it will welcome all donations of books, tapes, CDs, LPs and music sheets for its annual book fair on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th November.
Survey Shows Small Firms Get Small Change From Banks
Posted by Jim Masson On October - 31 - 2011
THE success rate of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises that applied for a bank loan fell from 92% in 2007 to 65% in 2010, according to new figures released today.
This compared to a fall from 88% to 65% in the UK over the same period.
The Northern Ireland survey of Business Access to Finance is part of an EU wide survey of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
The Northern Ireland survey also included coverage of the micro business population. This showed that the bank loan success rate for such businesses (0-9 employees) halved over the period (from 89% to 45% of applicants).
