Other NI News In Brief

Border Alert Over

A controlled explosion on a pipe bomb found in Newry yesterday was carried by Army bomb experts after a stretch of the Camlough Road between Carnagat Road and Monaghan Street had been closed for a period. Police were critical of those responsible for the alert and subsequent traffic disruption with a PSNI spokesperson saying they "had scant regard for the safety of the local community".

On Your Bike!

Urban sports fans are building links across Belfast and beyond with the official opening of the new Bridges Urban Sports Park in Belfast city centre this week. The £500,000 Park, funded by the European Union Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace lll) and Belfast City Council, offers a world class facility which can be used for competitions as well fun and excitement by urban sport enthusiasts. The Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, said the park's opening is "an exciting day for city, and our region. It is an iconic addition to Belfast’s landscape". He said the name of Bridges, chosen by public vote, was particularly meaningful as we are working to build bridges between people and communities through sport.

SELB Board Appointment

The Department of Education has announced the re-appointment of Councillor Sylvia McRoberts to the Board of the Southern Education and Library Board, (SELB). Ms McRoberts has been a member of Armagh City and District Council since 1993. She is engaged in political activity for the Ulster Unionist Party. The Education and Library Boards in are statutory bodies which perform a wide range of functions in the funding and delivery of local education and youth services for their respective areas. The Board members are appointed by the Minister of Education in accordance with Schedule 2 of the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986.

Travellers Update Sought

The NI Environment Minister Alex Attwood has launched consultation on an amended policy aimed at meeting the particular accommodation needs of travellers. The existing policy provides for grouped housing, serviced sites and transit sites for travellers within, adjoining or in close proximity to settlements. However, outside settlements there is only provision for grouped housing and transit sites - not serviced sites. This amendment provides policy for serviced sites for travellers outside settlements. Appealing for the public's view on Draft Policy HS 3 (Amended) of PPS 12, the Minister said: "What I and DOE are about is making Northern Ireland a better place to live. The traveller community has particular housing needs and I hope that this amended policy will assist in meeting these needs."

(BMcC/GK)