Other News In Brief

Shots Fired At West Belfast House

An investigation has been launched after gunshots were fired at a house in Ballymurphy, West Belfast.

A number of shots were fired at a property in the Dermott Hill Parade area just after midnight on Monday, 17 September.

No-one was physically injured in the incident, however the female occupant of the house was left badly shaken.

Developers Invited To Submit Interest In Fort George Site

The Department for Communities (DfC) is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in developing the Fort George site in L'Derry.

The 15-acre site has received outline planning permission for over 885,000 sq ft of gross floor space for mixed-use facilities.

Property consultants Lisney have been appointed to manage the Expressions of Interest process, which will run for eight weeks from 17 September until 12 noon on 09 November. In the case of a positive response, the Department will then proceed with a full marketing exercise to select a purchaser.

Damian Mulholland, Director of the Department's North West Development Office at the Department for Communities, said: "With the remediation of Fort George underway, the Department is now moving to test the nature and scale of market interest in the site. Given its strategic location adjacent to the A2, for which DfI has published road upgrade proposals, the presence of Catalyst Inc, which has sought planning permission for a second building, and an impressive river frontage, we believe the site is ideally placed to deliver lasting social and economic benefits for the City.

"We look forward to receiving suitably ambitious proposals to realise that potential."

Andrew Gawley, Director at Lisney, said: "The team at Lisney in Belfast is delighted to partner with Department for Communities on this very exciting project that will ultimately play a huge role in the regeneration of the area.

"At this initial stage, we are certainly expecting Expressions of Interest from potential investors within the UK and Ireland, but I would also expect enquiries from further afield."

Council Passes Proposal To Light Up Ards Town Hall On Pride Day

Ards and North Down Borough Council Committee has backed proposals to light up Ards Town Hall in Rainbow Colours to coincide with Pride Day on the first Saturday of August.

The motion was presented by Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir and is subject to ratification at full council meeting on 26 September.

Commenting on the issue, Cllr Muir said: "I presented this motion in the hope that we could make a positive difference to the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living, working or visiting our Borough and am therefore delighted to have secured backing of the relevant Council Committee in affirming that LGBT people should be accepted and valued just like everyone else."

(LM/CM)