Flood Relief

As much as £1,000 could be claimed by householders whose homes were severely damaged by this week's flooding. Anyone suffering flooding is being urged to contact their local council to apply for the emergency payment. NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots made the call on Wednesday as he visited one of the areas affected by the flooding in Castlereagh. He said that affected householders should contact their council to arrange an urgent inspection of their property.

Swine Flu Prisoner Remanded

A prisoner with suspected swine flu is to be held in jail at a special quarantined unit in Maghaberry prison. Robert Barry Crossan, 33, of Moss Park in Londonderry, was due to appear before the city's Magistrates Court this week on a number of driving-related charges. He is charged with driving while disqualified and having no insurance on July 17 last. However, in his absence, the court heard that one of Crossan's bail conditions banned him from driving or being a front seat passenger in any private car and was told that a police officer said she saw the 33-year-old driving a car in the Creggan area of the city on August 24 last. The court heard that, when police approached the car, it took off at around 60 mph. The officer objected to Crossan being granted bail because of the risk of further offending.

Kenyans Eye NI Policing

The Northern Ireland Policing Board recently met with a Kenyan delegation to discuss key elements of the police reform process which has taken place over the last decade. The delegation are members of the Police Reform Task Force, set up by the Kenyan government to produce recommendations which will be central to effective police reform in the country. The delegation was particularly interested in the police accountability and oversight mechanisms in place and the role of community policing in society.

'Road Up' On M1

The NI Roads Service has announced resurfacing works on the M1 motorway. The works are on the westbound section between Junction 9 Moira and Junction 10 Lurgan. The road works will run from 5 to 7 September 2009. These works were previously scheduled for 22 to 24 August, but because of adverse weather conditions the work was not carried out. Mark McPeak, Roads Service’s Project Manager said: "The work will be restricted to weekend and overnight working. However, some delays will be inevitable and we would ask that motorists be patient as these essential works progress."

Drainage Work Tapped

Work is set to commence soon on the next stage of the Ballycastle-Drainage Area Plan Project, NI Water has said. The work, which is expected to commence early this month and last for 12 weeks, will involve laying a new combined sewer from the football pitches at Quay Road to the Diamond.

Winter Fuel In Focus

People aged 60 or over, who have not received a Winter Fuel Payment before, are being urged to check if they are eligible. This is particularly relevant as this year's qualifying week for inclusion approaches. People aged 60 or over by 27 September 2009 can qualify for £250 per household, rising to £400 for those over 80 years. NI Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie said: "I want to make sure people know about the Winter Fuel Payment, particularly those who do not realise they are eligible perhaps because they are still working. I encourage them to contact the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline to check if they can claim."

'Water' Bonus!

Cookstown company Colloide Engineering Systems has secured contracts for wastewater worth over £1.75 million in the environmental technologies industry. With help from Invest Northern Ireland, Colloide is providing advanced water, wastewater and process engineering solutions to the public and private sectors. The company's recent success includes a €1.5 million upgrade of water works for Donegal County Council and a £300,000 industrial wastewater installation in South Wales.

What's In A Name?

NI schoolchildren are being asked to help name new a new council. South Armagh Sinn Féin councillor Jimmy McCreesh has welcomed an agreement by the Newry & Mourne and Down Council Transition Committee to allow children across the new council area to debate its name. Cllr McCreesh said it is being referred to as Newry City, Mourne and Down District Council. This name has absolutely no significance to the community in South Armagh: "For decades South Armagh was not acknowledged in the Newry and Mourne council title, we now have an opportunity to rectify that," he said, noting that he has asked the Transition Committee to consult the pupils of all schools in the new district with regard to naming of the council. "I am pleased that this has been agreed," he said,

(BMcC/KMcA)