Other News In Brief

Work On Killyleagh Road Scheme Begins

Work on a £135,000 road improvement scheme on the B7 Shrigley Road Killyleagh has begun.

The scheme, which will involve drainage works and the resurfacing of a 500m stretch of the B7 Shrigley Road Killyleagh from the speed limit signs at Killyleagh Primary School to the front of Killyleagh Castle, will deliver significant improvements to both the structural integrity and surface of the road. The work is expected to take four weeks to complete.

Diversions will be put in place.

NIE Networks Launches New Advice Service

NIE Networks is launching a new advice service for people considering developing a new home or extending business premises.

Specialist engineers have developed the 'Ask the Expert' service by introducing one-to-one sessions for customers who are looking for technical advice about their electrical connections.

Edel Creery, Connections Manager at NIE Networks, said: "In recent months we have hosted a number of roadshows and events for our domestic and business customers across Northern Ireland. Feedback from these customers showed us that many would like one-to-one discussions with our planning engineers before they submit their application for connection to the electricity network.

"The connections process can be challenging to navigate, especially for first time applicants. Our aim is to take customers through the process and give them any technical support they may require. These sessions will offer customers time with our planning and design teams to discuss both one off and complex projects. We aim to cover off topics such as network demand and capacity, substation location and design, legal issues, traffic management and quite simply to make the process as quick and straightforward as possible."

The free sessions, which are one-to-one and last around 45 minutes, are being held at our network of local offices in Belfast, Omagh, Campsie, Craigavon and Ballymena.

PM Statement 'Does Little' To Address UK's Brexit Position

Alliance Brexit spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA has said the Prime Minister's Brexit statement "does little" to address the many contradictions in the UK's Brexit position.

Dr Farry was speaking after Theresa May set out what she called "the hard facts" about Brexit and pledged to "bring the country together".

"I acknowledge the Prime Minister has given a fresh commitment to an open border in Ireland without any physical infrastructure," he said.

"However, this is at odds with her ongoing red lines in relation to a fresh Customs Union and the Single Market. Even the most advanced free trade agreement and customs arrangements in the world would require some degree of checks if they are not a Customs Union. The UK paper from last August and other mooted technological solutions are untried and untested and fail to address all of the challenges.

"The UK Government is continuing to go around in circles while the Brexit clock continues to tick. There is an urgent need to reach a legal understanding of the text of the Joint Report in order that certainty on transition arrangements can be established. Otherwise people and businesses will continue to suffer and may vote with their feet."

(CD)