UCF 'Veteran' Rewarded

There were congratulations this week to a cancer survivor who is celebrating 40 years of volunteering with the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF). Lena Jackson has generously donated her time and energy to improve the lives of local people who have been affected by cancer and she shows no sign of stopping any time soon - Lena currently volunteers one day per week at UCF's charity shop at Lisburn Road, Belfast. Her remarkable effort and commitment to volunteering was recognised in 1997 when she was awarded an MBE and UCF are thankful for her years of service. Arlene Spiers, Chief Executive, UCF is pictured congratulating Lena for her outstanding contribution to volunteering with the charity at a special tribute evening held in her honour.

Doorstep Sales Warning

People should guard against doorstep callers offering to carry out home improvement work. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's Trading Standards Service is advising consumers to be wary if approached by doorstep callers offering to sell goods or services. The advice follows a recent increase in the number of complaints made to Consumerline about bogus tradesmen. While it might be tempting to agree to attractive prices being offered on the doorstep, Trading Standards is warning people to think twice. Mary McKeown from Trading Standards Service said: "Doorstep selling can offer a convenient and necessary service to householders. When welcome and genuine, it can be of great benefit. The end result can turn out a lot more expensive than quoted and householders run the risk of it having been carried out to a poor standard," she cautioned.

Connswater Funds Welcomed

This week's announcement of a £1million research award to evaluate the positive effects of the Connswater Community Greenway (CCG) on local people has been welcomed by the NI Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie. CCG is an environmental project, delivering a linear park connecting existing green and open spaces along the banks of the Connswater and the research award has been granted to Professor Kee at the UK Centre of Excellence for Public Health (NI) Centre at Queen's University. Margaret Ritchie said: "This funding will enable an important five year study to be undertaken by researchers in consultation with the local community. It will allow the benefits of improvements to physical activity, health and wellbeing of individuals living beside Connswater Community Greenway to be fully measured. Over £3million from my department's Neighbourhood Renewal Investment fund has already been earmarked to help deliver the CCG Environmental Improvement Scheme."

Bulll Terrier Man Fined

A dog owner has been fined after his pet Staffordshire bull terrier attacked a child. Paul Peacock, of Inverwood Court in east Belfast, was fined £200 and ordered to pay £66 court costs at Belfast Magistrates Court. The court also ordered that the dog be kept on a lead and muzzled at all times whilst out in public. Belfast City Council brought the prosecution against Mr Peacock after his dog attacked a child in his street on January 17, 2009. A council spokeswoman said: "Belfast City Council adopts an extremely robust approach to the investigation and prosecution, where appropriate, of each and every reported dog attack as it is our commitment to protect the health and safety of the public." Meanwhile a woman was fined by the same court for failing to have a licence for her pet terrier dog. Geri O'Neill, from Brompton Park in the north of the city, did not appear in court but was fined £30 and ordered to pay court costs of £66.

Hygiene Fine On Doorstep

A west Belfast sandwich bar owner has been fined a total of £1,900 at Belfast Magistrates Court for a series of food hygiene offences. Conor Hughes, trading as Doorsteps on Blackstaff Road, was also ordered to pay costs of £66 in court after a prosecution, brought by Belfast City Council, relating to four separate hygiene offences. Environmental health officers first visited the premises at the Glenann complex on July 28, 2008 as part of an investigation relating to an outbreak of listeria at Belfast City Hospital. Inspection of the premises uncovered a number of breaches of food hygiene legislation including the premises not being kept clean and maintained in a good condition; failure to keep articles and equipment that came into contact with food clean, and failure to ensure staff who were handling food wore suitable clean, protective clothing. Belfast City Council confirmed to the court that the business had subsequently been inspected and that conditions had improved to its satisfaction.

(BMcC/GK)