Walking Trail To Be Developed In Plumbridge

Funding has been approved for the development of a walking trail at Balix Hill, Plumbridge.

Derry City and Strabane District Council agreed to commit £31,000 in match funding towards the project as well as £125,000 match funding for the development of a new woodland trail in Donemana.

Outlining to members details of the Balix Hill proposal at Plumbrige, the Director of Environment and Regeneration with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Karen Phillips, explained how Aghnacbrack & District Community Association and RAPID had secured £19,000 from the DAERA Challenge Fund to develop a new countryside walking trail.

She explained that while the funds will oversee the installation of a boardwalk and interpretive signage, the estimated total project cost is £50,000 that required Council to assist in providing the £31,000 shortfall.

In relation to the Donemana Woodland Trail, Ms Phillips explained that in partnership with St James Church in Donemana, the council is currently preparing a £250,000 funding application for submitting to Sport NI's Everybody Active 2020: Outdoor Spaces fund, to develop the woodland walking trail.

She added that the outcome of that funding decision is expected in late summer and subject to this, it was proposed that the council ringfence funds of £125,000 in the interim.

Alliance Welcomes Emmanuel Macron Victory

Alliance Leader Naomi Long has welcomed the victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French Presidential election, saying it shows the desire for positive politics which is gaining momentum.

Mr Macron comprehensively defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and will become France's youngest president, as well as the first from outside the two traditional main parties since 1958.

Mrs Long said: "Politics around the world needs more moderate representatives, with policies based on what unites people rather than divides them. We need to tackle fascism in all its forms."

SDLP Accused Of Trying to 'Delude' Electorate

Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said the SDLP are deluding themselves and trying to delude the electorate when they say their attendance at Westminster actually makes a difference to anything in Northern Ireland.

He said: "The SDLP have been taking their seats at Westminster for decades and they still can not point to any situation where they have affected substantial change to the British governments policies in the North. Indeed they failed to safeguard the interests of the North at Westminster during the Brexit debate.

"They are now intent on entering spoiler candidates in constituencies where they know they haven’t a snowballs chance in hell of winning the seat.

"They know it is down to a straight fight in North Belfast and Fermanagh/South Tyrone between the progressive, anti-Brexit, pro-equality Sinn Féin candidate and an austerity, Brexit, Tory supporting unionist candidate.

"We opened up the discussion for a progressive alliance but the SDLP came up with nothing reasonable. Sinn Féin aren’t intending to waste our time at Westminster, speaking to empty chambers when the North is discussed. The SDLP should re-appraise their spoiler attitude."

(CD/MH)