Other News In Brief

NI Ambulance Call-Out Times Steadily Increasing

Ambulance call-out times in Northern Ireland have been steadily increasing over the past five years.

According to Health and Social Care Trust figures obtained by the BBC, average waiting times for 'serious but not immediately life-threatening injuries' calls rose from 10 minutes and 33 seconds to 17 minutes and 41 seconds.

In five cases in the past year pensioners waited more than 15 hours to be transferred to hospital.

The number of 999 emergency calls received also increased from just over 100,000 in 2015 to more than 230,000 in 2017.

The NI Ambulance Service acknowledged targets were not being met.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Carers and Wellbeing, Colm Gildernew MLA said:

"It is deeply worrying that ambulance call-out times are on the rise. This highlights the pressures on our Ambulance Service and the wider health and social care service.

"It doesn't help that in the last two years over 9,300 hoax calls were made to the ambulance service, risking lives and wasting resources.

"We also know staff don't always get enough time to properly service the ambulances between shifts.

"I have requested a meeting with the Ambulance Service to discuss its plans to reduce waiting times."

244 Homes To Be Built On Belfast's Former Visteon Factory Site

Kevin Watson Group has been selected to develop over 240 new homes at the Visteon Factory site in Belfast for Radius Housing.

The £35 million development will see the construction of 244 private and social homes with access to community and workspace facilities, all set within extensive newly landscaped and open space on the former factory site.

As well as creating 300 construction jobs, the development will make an overall contribution to the economy of some £86 million. In addition Radius and Kevin Watson Group will deliver a number of apprenticeship opportunities during the lifetime of the contract.

Anita Conway, Radius Housing Director of Development said: "We are delighted that Kevin Watson Group are starting work on the Visteon site. Their experience in delivering high quality homes across Northern Ireland means that they are well placed to bring more than 240 new homes to this site in Belfast. This development will play a hugely significant role in reducing the housing waiting list in this area which is an area of acute housing stress. As one of Northern Ireland's only developers of affordable housing, we are delighted that this project will also include a range of affordable homes, which will be exclusively reserved for first time buyers."

Kevin Watson, Director of Kevin Watson Group, added:"We are delighted to be working with Radius Housing on one of the largest social and affordable housing projects in Northern Ireland. This Project will deliver excellent quality social and affordable homes to the people of Belfast as well regenerating an area of waste ground that has lain vacant for several years. In partnership with Radius Housing we have created several opportunities for young people from the area who are interested in working in the Built Environment, including a Trainee Site Manager Programme in which you can 'earn as you learn'. The successful applicant will work on the Visteon Project under the supervision of KWG Management, learning to become a Trainee Site Manager while at the same time gaining NVQ Level 6 Site Manager qualification. This Programme will run over three years and is an excellent opportunity for young people with an interest in learning about the construction industry."

Resurfacing Scheme Announced In L'Derry

Resurfacing and reconstruction work is to begin on the Caw Roundabout in L'Derry next month, 02 September.

The £200,000 scheme will strengthen the carriageway and improve the running surface. 

In order to minimise the disruption to traffic at the junction, the work will be undertaken between the hours of 7.00 pm and 7.00 am and will last for four nights.

Some disruption can be expected for the duration of the scheme and road users should allow additional time when planning any journeys. A contraflow system will be in operation and drivers should take particular care to follow the signs and lane markers.

Access for local residents and businesses will be accommodated throughout.

The work is expected to be substantially complete by 05 September subject to favourable weather conditions.

(CM)