Other News In Brief

Belfast Reservoir House Reopens Following Refurbishment

A house at Belfast's Silent Valley reservoir has reopened following a refurbishment.

Watertown House was officially opened at a special ceremony in the Watertown area.

The area was previously used to accommodate the engineer and labourers building the reservoir in the 1920s.

Welcoming the house back onto Northern Ireland Water land, Dr Len O'Hagan CBE, NI Water said: "The Silent Valley reservoir's creation almost a century ago was an amazing triumph of engineering. It remains a stunning resource which is an integral part of water infrastructure in Northern Ireland supplying 120 million litres of water each day to homes and businesses."

Chairman of Newry, Mourne & Down District Council, Mark Murnin added: "This grade B listed building was kindly donated by the Haugh family and dates back to 1923, when the temporary settlement of "Watertown" was established at the Silent Valley. At its peak, there were almost 2000 workers on site, with approximately one third of these living in Watertown. This self-contained settlement had a range of amenities including its own police station, cinema and dance hall and is reputed to have been the first town in Ireland to have street lights."

Heathrow Expansion Plans Welcomed

Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA has welcomed Parliament's approval of a new runway for Heathrow Airport.

Ms Armstrong was speaking after two-thirds of MPs voted in favour of the £14 billion expansion.

"This issue has been a long-running one but Alliance has always vocally backed a third runway at Heathrow, recently writing to the Prime Minister urging support for such a move. I am pleased today's vote went in favour of such a move," she said.

"Heathrow is the UK's main hub airport and having better connections will be of a benefit to all of us. The airport is our gateway to Europe, which will become even more important after Brexit, and the rest of the world.

"While it may be some time before the runway is actually built, I hope it will lead in the long-term to more jobs, more businesses and more tourists using the airport to connect to Northern Ireland."

SDLP Supports Residents Opposed To Arc21 Incinerator

SDLP Cllr Noreen McClelland has reiterated her support for the residents of Hightown in their opposition to the Arc21 Incinerator Waste plant.

Speaking from the Belfast Courthouse, the Councillor for Glengormley Urban DEA commented: "The SDLP have been consistent in speaking against the placing of an incinerator plant so close to several large residential developments, schools and an area of high scenic value like the Belfast Hills.

"Credit must be paid to NoArc21 who have campaigned relentlessly against the incinerator, and who now wait the final decision within the coming months. Their response thus far has been impressive, proportionate and entirely justified."

(CD/MH)