Other News In Brief

Call For Licensed Premises Owners To Renew Liquor Licences

All owners of licensed premises to renew their liquor licences before the 30th September 2017 deadline.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Cargin said: "It is important that all owners of licensed premise ensure their businesses comply with legislation therefore we are encouraging everyone to renew their liquor licenses no less than 3 weeks before the deadline."

DfI To Host Consultation Events Over A1 Road Improvements

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) has announced it is to host consultation events for the public to discuss proposed road improvements along the A1 between Hillsborough Roundabout and Loughbrickland.

The events will take place at:

• Banbridge Town Hall, 11am-8pm, Wednesday, 14 June

• Hillsborough Court House, 11am-8pm, Tuesday, 20 June

• Dromore Town Hall, 11am-8pm, Thursday, 22 June

The events are part of an ongoing programme of consultation with the local community. Following the consultation events, the Department will consider all views that have been put forward.

UUP Waiting For Apology From David Simpson

Ulster Unionist MLA and Upper Bann Westminster candidate, Doug Beattie MC, has welcomed the withdrawal of misleading election literature and claims that David Simpson visited troops in Afghanistan, but has re-stated his call for a valid explanation.

Doug Beattie MC said: "I am glad to see that David Simpson has now removed the Facebook post from 2010 which wrongly implied he was in Afghanistan. I am also pleased that he has withdrawn and amended his 2017 canvass literature which also incorrectly stated 'has visited British troops on the front line in Afghanistan'.

"I am however still disappointed that David Simpson has not seen fit to explain to the electorate of Upper Bann why his literature attempted to mislead them over him visiting Afghanistan in the first place, or why there was a photo album on his Facebook page misleadingly titled, 'Afghanistan'. Until he does, there will continue to be speculation from some quarters that it was done deliberately for electoral gain.

"Without a satisfactory explanation, it is clear that the electorate of Upper Bann would have continued to be misled, if someone had not held him to account. The leaflets have been withdrawn, but in the absence of an explanation or even an apology, it really is difficult to see how he can face the electorate with much credibility."

(CD)