Other News In Brief

Work To Start On £187,000 Road Scheme In Co Down

Construction work on a £187,000 road scheme is to start in Ballynahicnh in Co Down on Monday, 26 March, and is expected to be completed by Friday, 27 April.

The work will take place on the B175 Edendarriff Road.

It involves drainage works and the resurfacing of a 1.7km stretch of the road from its junction with Drumaroad Hill and Dromore Road in the Ballynahinch direction.

The project will deliver significant improvements to both the structural integrity and surface of the road. The work is expected to be completed by 27 April 2018.

The Edendarriff Road will be closed from 8am to 6pm from Monday 26 March to Friday 30 March and from Monday 16 April to Friday 27 April.

The road will reopen during the evenings and over weekends.

Diversion routes will be put in place and local access will be maintained.

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman has been convicted for claiming benefits she was not entitled to at Belfast Magistrates' Court.

Kirsty Boreland-Truesdale Jobseeker's Allowance totalling £2,485 while failing to declare employment. She was given a three year conditional discharge.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Department for Communities.

Concerns Raised Over Cleanliness Of Ambulance Stations

Concerns have raised over the standards of cleanliness of some ambulance stations and vehicles.

The Ambulance Service will bring in a health professional to advise about better hygiene after visits to 21 stations by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority last month.

At least 50 per cent of the stations had issues in regards to unsatisfactory hygiene in relation to infection prevention, hygiene and cleanliness.

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said: "It is a matter of record, and has been for a frustratingly long time, the Ambulance Service is understaffed and front-line ambulance staff are operating under extraordinary pressure. The cleanliness issues arising are in many ways an inevitable consequence.

"What we are seeing here is the penalty for inaction - the Ambulance Service should have been prioritised far sooner. There is now an opportunity to do this under new leadership.

"While cleanliness issues are clearly a serious matter and of profound public concern, as well as for the workers themselves, what we do see here is the new inspection system working. It is important visits are carried out at random, at least occasionally, to see stations in regular and normal use."

(CD/MH)