Council Seeks Funding To Upgrade Coastal Path

Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has said plans to give the coastal path close to Station Road a facelift will boost tourism across the borough.

The local Councillor was speaking after Ards and North Down Borough Council revealed it was searching for funding opportunities to overhaul the latest section of the coastal path.

Councillor Muir said: "The coastal path is a vital asset to our beautiful borough and one that we must ensure we make the most of.

"In recent years I have successfully lobbied to ensure vital changes were made to the coastal path, allowing for greater access and to benefit all users such as the new section bypassing old Seahill steps.

"While North Down is already well-known as a beautiful scenic spot for tourists, there is always more we can do as a borough to attract a greater number of visitors each year. Without action this vital Coastal Path link risks being irreparably damaged by the ravages of the sea."

Call For Stadium Refurb Plans To Proceed

Sinn Féin is calling for the refurbishment of the Brandywell Stadium in L'Derry to proceed as planned.

Mr Raymond McCartney MLA said that while he is confident it will go ahead within the agreed time frame he believes plans in relation to the greyhound track can be put in place.

Mr McCartney said: "At the meeting of the Councils Health and Communities Committee on 15th October, officials were asked to look at options that would ensure that the Brandywell project would move on to the construction phase and thus ensure the maximum use of the facilities for all users.

"Since then I have met with Council officials and we now believe that a proposal in relation to the greyhound track can be put in place which will ensure that rent for the use of track can set at an affordable rate.

"This proposal will also entail measures that will mitigate against the high rent that state aid rules can impose on Derry City and Strabane Council."

Health Dept Accused Of Drifting Into Workforce Crisis

Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey has accused the Health Department of needlessly drifting into yet another workforce crisis.

The former Health Minister was speaking after the Royal College of Midwives launched a report which warned that Northern Ireland will soon be facing a shortage of midwives unless urgent action is taken.

He said: "Midwives are the absolute pillar of our local maternity system. They are becoming increasingly important to women and their babies in ensuring that they receive a continuum of care during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the important days and weeks after birth.

"It is totally unacceptable that the current situation has been allowed to develop. It is not just our midwifery workforce that is facing serious pressures. For every year Northern Ireland goes without training adequate numbers of GPs we are only heading for a deeper crisis in primary care. Repeated warnings on workforce issues have been ignored in recent years and this has contributed to the plummeting morale amongst our health workers, causing many to consider taking further industrial action."

(CD)