Other News In Brief

DUP's Edwin Poots Welcomed To Agriculture Ministry

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) has welcomed the appointment of DUP MLA Edwin Poots as the Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The union expressed hope that the new Minister will hit the ground running with much-needed strategic decisions following three years of political stalemate and a future filled with Brexit uncertainty.

UFU president Ivor Ferguson said: "Edwin Poots takes on the agriculture brief at a time when the industry is under extreme pressure due to three years of a political vacuum and Brexit. Decisions regarding investment, growth and key animal health issues such as the control of bovine TB, have not been taken and operational issues which the Brexit fall-out could create for our existing trading patterns with our present markets in GB, ROI and the EU, adds further complexity.

"The local farming industry is already beginning to experience Brexit-related change in terms of the legal basis for direct payments to NI farmers this year and we will need input from Mr Poots as DAERA Minister to help us though this challenging process.

"Considerable uncertainty lies ahead for our industry, but the new Minister will have our full support."

Minister Poots is urged to address pressing issues as soon as possible and safeguard NI's place in the internal UK market post Brexit and protect and enhance the future viability of farming and agricultural business.

Shared Community Spaces Begin Development In Co Down

A number of community shared spaces in Comber, Holywood, Portaferry and Portavogie have begun development thanks to funding from the European Union's PEACE IV Programme.

Ards and North Down Borough Council secured £3.3 million from the programme, with £1 million set aside for FP McCann to deliver the shared spaces projects on all four sites.

Work in Comber and Portaferry officially started on 06 January with Comber's Mucker's Field set to get a new skate park with fencing and lighting. Additional drainage works will be added to the existing family kick about area and the path that surrounds the entire field, which connects to the Comber to Newtownards Greenway, will be upgraded and widened.

In Portaferry, there will be improvements to the existing walking trail path at Nugent's Wood as well as additional drainage works, seating, sculptures and new entrance signage. Meanwhile, an official walking trail gravel path will be installed at Portaferry Ropewalk where new seating and entrance signage will also be installed.

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said: "Ards and North Down Borough Council is looking forward to making the most of the opportunity provided by the PEACE IV Programme. The Programme is designed to support peace and reconciliation and will bring a real, tangible benefit to our community.

"Each development will focus on creating a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared spaces and services across the Borough ensuring that each area will provide recreational facilities for all members of the community to use."

Work will commence on the final two sites in Holywood and Portavogie in the late spring.

Water Blockage 'Hotspots' Cost NI Water £5m

Northern Ireland's top 20 blockage 'hotspots' have been revealed, costing NI Water £5 million over the last two years.

Belfast was ranked at the top of the list with 7,000 blockages over the last two years, followed by L'Derry and Newtownabbey with 3,000 and 1,400 respectively.

NI Water's Head of Environmental Regulation, Angela Halpenny explained: "NI Water fights a daily battle with blocked sewers and this time we are 'flushing' out the worst offenders in a bid to reduce blockages.

"The main cause of blocked sewers and out of sewer flooding is the flushing of inappropriate items such as baby wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products. Blockages are completely avoidable if everyone adopts a simple habit of binning everything other than the three P's, pee, poo and paper.

"We're targeting our worst offending areas with an awareness campaign - so if you find your town on the list, look out for our 'blocked pipes flood homes' adverts and see how we all have the power to stop it."

A full list of the top 20 blockage 'hotspots' in NI is available on the NI Water website.



(JG/CM)