24 April 2012

Other News In Brief

Car Dealer Fined For Selling Clocked Car  

In a case brought by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s Trading Standards Service, Roy Martin John Smiley, who had traded as CT Autos, 571 Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, had been previously convicted of two charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. He had not attended earlier hearings and a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

It was discovered that CT Autos had sold a consumer a 2006 Vauxhall Astra with an odometer reading of approximately 75,000 miles. Shortly afterwards the consumer discovered the car had travelled a much higher mileage - later confirmed by the Trading Standards Service to be at least 165,751 miles. The consumer raised the matter with the trader and returned the car. A few days later it was offered to undercover Trading Standards officers with the lower figure. No mention of the higher mileage was made.

Peter Rankin, Trading Standards Officer said: "The penalty in this case should serve as a warning to traders that they should ensure that cars they sell are correctly described in advertisements and during negotiations with potential buyers. Failure to do so can result in a fine, with the maximum fine for each offence being £5,000."

Children's Farm Safety Poster Competition Launched

Health and Safety Minister Arlene Foster has launched the 2012 'Be Aware Kids' child safety on farms poster competition, in Aghadrumsee Primary School in Rosslea, Co. Fermanagh.  The 'Be Aware Kids' poster competition, first launched by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) in 2004, is aimed at raising farm safety awareness amongst the children of farming families. Its goal is to eliminate fatal child incidents on farms and make them safer places where children can live and play.

At the launch, the Minister said: “This poster competition is an ideal way to encourage children to actively think about dangers on the farm and I would encourage all teachers in rural primary schools to involve their classes and to enter the competition."

All Homes Should Have House Numbers Clearly Identified

East Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Oliver Mc Mullan has called on Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy to make it a legal requirement that all domestic properties display their allocated number.

Mr McMullan said: "I held a meeting with representatives of the Emergency Services and one of the points that was raised was the lack of clarity in addresses especially in rural areas.

"In rural areas it is not unusual for either the Fire Brigade, PSNI or the Ambulance Service to spend valuable time looking for an address as many homes do not display their number. It is also important that laneways on which homes are situated are clearly named and identifiable.

"The few minutes looking for a correct address could be the difference between life and death in certain circumstances so it is in the interests of the homeowner to have their house clearly numbered.

(CD/GK)