Other News In Brief

Downpatrick Loses Out In NHS Shared Services

SDLP South Down MLA Seán Rogers has spoken of his extreme disappointment at Downshire Hospital losing out in the Health Minister’s announcement of shared service arrangements for NHS administration.

The Business Service Organisation recommendations that back-office admin be located in four hubs in Belfast, Ballymena, Omagh and Armagh according to which service they provide were confirmed by Minister Edwin Poots in the Assembly this morning.

 Mr Rogers said: “While I welcome the retention, for up to two years ,of 25-30 staff at the Downshire site, and while I applaud the work of my colleague Margaret Ritchie who fought for this retention and whom I am pleased to help continue the fight for Downshire’s admin staff, I am still gravely disappointed by the announcement by the Minister this morning that the substantive changes are to go ahead at the end of a very flawed consultation process which forced staff to take decisions before consultation concluded."

Best Practice Guide For Countryside Building Published

Environment Minister, Alex Attwood has today launched definitive guidance for rural building projects.

The document, 'Building on Tradition' is a best practice design guide that aims to assist all of those involved with sustainable development in the Northern Ireland countryside to understand the requirements of Planning Policy Statement 21 (PPS21) 'Sustainable development in the countryside'.

Mr Attwood said: "This guidance will greatly assist planners with consistent interpretation and application of PPS21 policies, and allow applicants and others to understand its policy requirements.

"The guidance is intended to raise awareness of how best to protect our natural environment and has been developed while taking account of comments made on the public consultation of the draft guidance."

£3.6m Water Supply Investment Underway In Newtownstewart

NI Water have announced that it will be commencing construction work on a new water supply main and water pumping station from the River Strule near Newtownstewart to Derg Water Treatment Works.

The project represents an investment by NI Water of £3.6m in securing the local treated water supply and is scheduled to be completed by March 2013.

The new pipeline will be laid along the Derg Road, Tievenny Road and the A5 as well as in private fields.

Works on the Derg Road and Tieveny Road will require temporary road closures to be put in place. Diversion routes for each closure will be clearly signposted. Access will be maintained for local residents and businesses, however please be aware that it will not be possible to facilitate through traffic and therefore the diversion routes will have to be followed. NI Water and our contractor have carried out letter drops in the area and our site team will liaise directly with the public living in close proximity to the work site.

(CD/GK)