Thaw On Wednesday?

People in NI are set for a respite from the freezing weather with a thaw in the icy conditions likely towards the end of this week. The sub-zero temperatures caused travel chaos for thousands of people and forced the closure of scores of schools across Northern Ireland and temperatures last night fell to -10C in some areas and there was widespread frost throughout the province as between 2cm and 5cm of snow combined with freezing rain in some parts made some roads treacherous and the risk of black ice prevalent. Similar conditions are predicted through Wednesday with milder weather from Thursday onwards, according to the experts.

Military Awards

Vice Chair of the Department of Employment and Learning Committee Jonathan Bell has given a warm welcome to the scholarships being offered to the children of deceased military personnel. Welcoming the news that DEL will meet the costs of this Ministry of Defence scheme the Strangford MLA said: "Our service personnel have shown the highest levels of courage and vocation they deserve to know when they pay the supreme sacrifice for us we will look after their children. This scholarship fund valued at £7,125 for university and vocational courses will be met by the Executive through DEL in respect of Northern Ireland soldiers. The fund is available to the children of deceased military personnel for whom they had legal parentage and for those born up to 10 months after death," he explained.

Rosetta Primary Boosted

Alliance MLA Anna Lo and Laganbank candidate for Belfast City Council, Catherine Curran have welcomed news that DRD Roads Service has committed resources to the implementation of the Safer Routes to School scheme around Rosetta Primary School. Anna Lo MLA said: "I am very pleased that this scheme will go ahead, which will see a number of road safety measures around Rosetta Primary School. I know that staff, parents and pupils were extremely anxious about road safety given the number of accidents in the recent past." Catherine Curran said "We have been campaigning with Rosetta Primary School on this matter for some time, and we are delighted with this success. Clearly the safety of pedestrians, and in particular that of pupils should be paramount in these circumstances."

Andytown News Boss To Stand

The man in charge of Belfast Media Group, publishers of the Andersonstown News, for the last 13 years, Martin O'Muilleoir is to re-enter politics as a Sinn Fein party representative on Belfast City Council. He was a member of the council for a decade, until 1997, before quitting politics to go into business. His name has been put forward to represent the Balmoral area on Belfast City Council.

Boys' Ardoyne Walk Peaceful

After the Apprentice Boys of Derry feeder parade at the nationalist Ardoyne passed off peacefully at the weekend local SDLP Councillor Nichola Mallon said: "I welcome the fact that this parade passed off peacefully and I would urge political, community, religious and civil leaders to step up to the plate and do all that they can to facilitate and encourage this dialogue as a matter of urgency. This is critical if we are to consign the horrific scenes witnessed on 12th July to history."

Alliance Agrees Candidates

The Alliance party has selected former councillor John Blair to fight the Antrim Line area and sitting Councillors Tom Campbell and Lynn Frazer to run in the University ward of Newtownabbey. Cllr Campbell said: "This is an election in which the momentum is moving in Alliance's direction following recent election successes for the party and I am confident that we will return two Alliance councillors for this ward, as we had done some time ago. Given the acrimonious politics espoused by some in Newtownabbey Council we need positive Alliance voices to help address the significant damage caused to community relations as the result of the freezing out of non-unionist representation." Cllr Lynn Frazer - a former Mayor - said: "I am very pleased to have been selected and am confident that we can increase Alliance representation in the Newtownabbey area in the forthcoming elections." Also commenting, John Blair said: "It's great to be back running for Alliance at Council level. I enjoy working to help deliver for people in Newtownabbey and I want to make a difference on the council again. Alliance is all about delivering constructive politics and solutions. We offer a strong alternative to the tribal parties and a vision for a new NI free from segregation."

(BMcC/KMcA)