NIW Fined For Breach Of Consent

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has been fined £250 for breach of consent at L'Derry Magistrates Court today, Thursday.

The fine related to the breaching of conditions of a discharge consent relating to the operation of Manorwood Waste Water Pumping Station (WWPS).

On 9 December 2013, a Water Quality Inspector acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected the Ardnabrocky Burn and observed an extensive covering of sewage fungus coating 100% of the bed of the waterway. The water in the Burn was observed to be slightly cloudy and the impact on the waterway stretched for over 200 metres downstream.

NIW stated that on 5 December 2013, one of the pumps was reported as not functioning. A NIW operative attended the site but was unable to start the pump. An order was raised for an M & E fitter to repair the pump, however, it was decided to leave this work until later as there was a second pump available. One pump is not capable of coping with the incoming flows and as a result the storm was overflowing over the weekend. NIW further stated that the pump arrangements at the time of the incident were duty / assist, however, the arrangements were recorded as duty / standby at the Telemetry Control Centre and the wet well range was set incorrectly. This situation contravened the conditions of a Water (NI) Order 1999 ‘consent to discharge’ issued in respect of the installation.

Call For Developers To Put Forward Proposals For Bank Square

Prospective developers are being urged to put forward their ideas for the development of a site in Bank Street, Belfast.

The site, at 38-42 Bank Street, is centrally located in the commercial heart of the city in an area which has recently seen the Department for Social Development (DSD) invest £3 million in a regeneration scheme to revitalise the Bank Square and surrounding area.

Social Development Minister Mervyn Storey said: "This is an important development opportunity within the commercial core of Belfast City Centre. I am inviting prospective developers to bring forward innovative proposals that will not only redevelop this particular site but which will complement and build on the regeneration work recently undertaken by my Department in the Bank Square area.

"This is an exciting time for this part of the city centre with requests being received to use the new Bank Square public space. Events such as the weekly market which Folktown Community Interest Company plan to launch in mid April 2015 will bring increased footfall and activity to the area and I want to wish them every success with this venture."

The closing date for submissions is 12 noon on 14th May 2015.

New Online Map For OSNI Launches

A new online map shop for Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) has launched.

OSNI's mapping data is amongst the most detailed and comprehensive in the world and the new online map shop means most of OSNI’s mapping products can be bought online.

Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said: "OSNI's new online map shop epitomizes the modern Ordnance Survey in Northern Ireland and reflects my aim to improve service delivery through the use of digital channels. Customers anywhere in the world and at any time are able to view, purchase and download OSNI’s extensive range of digital map products to their computers and tablets within minutes. This is OSNI’s shop window to the world."

(CD/MH)