Call For Minister To Address Road Safety

SDLP South Down MLA Karen McKevitt has again called on Roads Minister Danny Kennedy to commit to addressing road safety at the Ballyholland Road in Newry.

Mrs McKevitt has written to the Minister on two previous occasions highlighting road safety concerns in the area but the Department has failed to act.

She said: "It is only a matter of time before we have a serious accident here which may otherwise be preventable if proper road safety measures are put in place.

"I share the frustration of local residents. I've also contacted the police to ask that they rigorously monitor the area and enforce penalties against those found to be driving dangerously. This is a serious matter and I will continue to pursue it for local people."

Farmer Fined For Pollution Offence

A Co Fermanagh farmer has been fined at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court for making a polluting discharge to a waterway which caused a fish kill.

Mark Elliott, Currin, Ballinamallard, was fined £2,000, plus £1,599 fish restocking costs and an offenders levy of £15.

On 15 June 2014, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), inspected an unnamed tributary of the Salry River at Currin and observed that it was very dark in colour and smelled strongly of agricultural effluent.

At this location the inspector observed a number of dead fish (trout and sticklebacks). Downstream the inspector observed the waterway was contaminated and smelled strongly of silage effluent. The polluting discharge was traced to farm premises owned by Mr Elliott.

The length of waterway impacted by the discharge was approximately two kilometres, with 41 trout; 125 sticklebacks; 64 crayfish and five eel mortalities.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Students Urged To Ensure Deposits Are Protected

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, has encouraged students, and all those living in privately rented accommodation, to ensure their deposits are protected.

The 'Tenancy Deposit Scheme' reminder comes at a time when students are arranging accommodation before they begin the new academic year. The Scheme, which requires private landlords to protect a tenant's deposit, was introduced to make sure tenants get their deposit back, if they are entitled to it, at the end of their tenancy.

Minister Storey said: "Many students will soon be taking up tenancies with a private landlord. I am therefore taking this opportunity to make them aware that their landlord has a responsibility to ensure deposits are protected.

"This is a protection set out in legislation to ensure tenants get their deposit back, if so entitled, at the end of a tenancy. Undoubtedly the experience of most private housing tenants is positive. However, one of the more common issues that arise is around the return of tenants' deposits and the disputes that can follow.

"This can be avoided, and I would ask that all those renting privately have a conversation with their landlord on whether their deposit is protected. It is your deposit, It is your money, make sure it is protected."

(CD/JP)