Other News In Brief

Funding Announced For Eight New Greenway Schemes

Funding of £200,000 has been announced for the development of eight new Greenway schemes.

Announced by the Department for Infrastructure and the Public Health Agency, the funding has been provided under Stage 3 of the 'Small Grants Programme for Greenways' and will award £25,000 for the development of detailed designs for each project proposal across the four council areas of Newry, Mourne and Down, Antrim and Newtownabbey, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and Causeway Coast and Glens.

The eight successful Greenway proposal projects include:

• Downpatrick to Newcastle

• Downpatrick to Comber

• Doagh to Larne

• Craigavon to Aghagallon

• Portadown to Caledon (via Armagh)

• Portadown to Moy

• Banbridge to Scarva

• Ballymoney to Ballycastle

Andrew Grieve from the Department for Infrastructure said: "Exercise – Explore – Enjoy: a Strategic Plan for Greenways' sets out the Department's ambition for the creation of a 1,000km network across Northern Ireland. This funding will help more Councils to develop greenway projects that align with that plan and we look forward to seeing their proposals move towards fruition."

‘Stop and search’ border zone proposals "grotesque" - SDLP

SDLP Brexit Spokesperson Claire Hanna MLA has said that proposals to provide for a mile-wide 'stop and search' zone along the border would be grotesque assault on border life and on the Agreement of which the UK Government is a co-guarantor. Ms Hanna was commenting on plans which are being provided for in the ‘Counter Terrorism and Border Security Bill’ currently working its way through Westminster.

The MLA for South Belfast said: "The UK government appear to neither care nor understand the anxiety they are causing here. At this point in the Brexit negotiations there is very little we could put past this government who seem prepared to sign up to almost anything in the name of Brexit, and oblivious to the tension these proposals create. Despite two years of platitudes, the UK Government and their DUP sidekicks have taken absolutely no opportunities to provide meaningful reassurance on post-Brexit arrangements. To make these provisions at this time is unbelievably tone deaf.

"It is an affront to the peace Agreement that Theresa May would allow any hardening of the border, let alone providing for ‘stop and search’ zones.

"As the months go by and the Government becomes increasingly closer to crashing out of the European Union, people here are again those most likely to be the casualties of their incompetence."

Alliance Cllr Commends Emergency Services

East Belfast Alliance Councillor Peter McReynolds has praised the emergency services for dealing with a suspected gas explosion in Ballyhackamore.

One person has been injured following the incident, which happened at a recently opened restaurant on the Upper Newtownards Road around 4pm this afternoon. The road remains closed, with concerns remaining about the stability of the building.

"The facts are still emerging but one man has been taken to hospital with injuries. My thoughts are with him and I hope he makes a swift recovery," said Councillor McReynolds.

"While concerns remain about the building being unstable, I am thankful no other injuries or damage has been reported to date. We could have easily been dealing with a far worse outcome.

"This is a built-up residential and commercial area, so I want to give my thanks to the emergency services, who were quick on the scene and helped with a difficult situation."