Four New Belfast Bikes Docking Stations Announced

Four new Belfast Bikes docking stations have been announced across the city, including: Antrim Road/ Waterworks, Lisnasharragh Leisure Centre, Olympia Leisure Centre and the Kennedy Centre.

Funding has been provided through the DfI Sustainable and Active Travel elements of the DfC Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme Fund.  

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Kate Nicholl spoke about the upcoming new developments and said: "The Belfast Bikes scheme has changed the way residents, visitors and businesses use and see Belfast with the scheme actively promoting cycling as a safe, healthy and environmentally sustainable form of transport." 

"Since its introduction, the scheme has not only grown in size but also in popularity with rentals and users consistently increasing. It is so encouraging to see more people choosing a bike as their method of transport which clearly signifies that Belfast Bikes is an integral part of city life and in turn helps to create a better connected, low carbon, climate resilient city. I am really looking forward to Belfast Bikes continuing to achieve more success in the years to come. " 

Poots Visits Lough Neagh Rescue Centre Development

Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots, has visited the Lough Neagh Rescue (LNR) Centre at Kinnego Marina, which when completed will provide a more enhanced service to the community and will allow for training to take place in a modern training environment.

The works cost £640,000 and a grant of £480,000 was secured under the NI Rural Development Programme’s Co-Operation Scheme. The project is delivered in co-operation with three Local Action Groups, namely SOAR (ABC) in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area, MURDP (Mid Ulster Rural Development Programme) and GROW (South Antrim).

Minister Poots said: "It has been really interesting hearing all the good work LNR do saving lives all year round on the Lough and I was very impressed by the team’s life-saving stories.

"I am delighted that my department in partnership with SOAR have been able to help fund the new works at Kinnego Lough Neagh rescue centre and I was able to see the work taking place at the Marina under the Co-Operation Scheme. This is a state of the art rescue facility and will make the Lough a much safer place in which to enjoy the activities on the open water and the wildlife around it once the building works are complete."

Businesses Encouraged To Apply For Top Up Grant Scheme

Businesses are encouraged to apply for the £5,000 and £10,000 top up grant schemes being administered by Land & Property Services.

The top up payments are for businesses which received either the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant or the £25,000 Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure Grant last year, but which did not receive any funding during the most recent restrictions.

While most businesses received their top up payments automatically last month, some businesses need to apply for the top up grant. These include businesses that operate from premises where the landlord pays the rates, businesses that have relocated since they were paid the original grant and new businesses which started trading after May last year.

Encouraging businesses to apply, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: "Over £70 million has so far issued in automatic top up payments to more than 13,000 businesses. While these businesses remained opened their footfall and trade was impacted by restrictions and so I was keen to ensure they received support.

"From today businesses which did not receive an automatic payment can apply for a top up grant payment.

"I would encourage businesses to go online, check the eligibility criteria and to apply if they’re eligible."

The online portal will close at 23:59 on 28 July 2021.