Other News In Brief

SDLP Call For More Resources For Planning Departments

SDLP Spokesperson for Infrastructure Sinead Bradley MLA has said that statistics published by the Department for Infrastructure, highlighting that only four out of eleven local councils are meeting their fifteen week targets to process planning applications, are an "absolute shambles". Ms Bradley added that in the last quarter, only five councils were meeting this target, and the fact that numbers have dropped further highlights that this issue needs particular attention.

The MLA for south Down commented: "The rationale behind transferring planning powers to local councils was steeped in the understanding that decisions would be taken more in line with the desires and needs of local communities. However, until resource matches demand, applications will remain stuck in a backlog.

"Delays in planning applications are more than merely a slight inconvenience, they have a knock-on effect across communities in terms of building much needed housing developments in areas of need, economic regeneration and community renewal, all of which are dependent upon an efficient planning application process. It is particularly important for many communities across the North who have never benefitted from a peace dividend to reap from more investment in this regard, but until we have a planning system that is fit for purpose, we are unlikely to see more investment in our local communities.

"The SDLP have suggested that one way to ensure councils speed this process up in relation to social housing new builds, especially given the rising homelessness statistics across the North, is to have a dedicated housing planning officer committed to processing planning applications for housing."

Number Of TB Cases Drops In NI

Ahead of World TB Day, Sunday 24 March, new figures from the Public Health Agency (PHA) have revealed that the number of reported cases of Tuberculosis (TB) has dropped in Northern Ireland.

There were 57 cases reported in 2018, down from 71 in 2017 and 85 in 2016.

Dr Michael Devine, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: "TB is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs, but can impact on other parts of the body. It is spread from person to person when someone who has TB of the lungs coughs or sneezes.

"Despite the fall in cases over the past three years, TB remains an important global and local public health issue. Over one million people die of the illness across the world each year, and there are more than 10 million new cases, so the PHA is reminding everyone of the importance of preventing transmission of tuberculosis and how to recognise its symptoms early."

Any of the following symptoms may suggest TB:

• Fever and night sweats

• Persistent cough

• Unexplained weight loss

• Blood in your sputum (phlegm or spit) at any time.

• A lack of appetite

• Fatigue and a general sense of feeling unwell.

If anyone is concerned about their symptoms they should contact their GP. Greater awareness can mean the condition is diagnosed and treated much earlier.

Dr Devine continued: "With effective treatment, TB can be a curable condition and World TB Day is an opportunity to raise awareness to reduce transmission of TB by encouraging early diagnosis and treatment.

"People may think of TB as a disease of the past but we must not become complacent- with new drug-resistant types of TB evolving it is essential that we maintain vigilance and know what to look out for."

The Big Spring Clean Targets Plastic Problem

Northern Ireland's largest clean-up, The Big Spring Clean, launched recently at Shane's Castle for the ninth year running. Organisers called on volunteers, schools, businesses and community groups to pick up their litter pickers and spring into action- with a particular focus on plastic.

The Big Spring Clean is a province-wide campaign organised by charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful's Live Here Love Here programme. Last year 119,000 volunteers took part, making it the largest volunteer clean up in the country, according to Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council.

This year, as Big Spring Clean launches its month-long campaign, problematic plastics are high up on the agenda. Plastic in our environment is not just litter, it's a pollutant, making up two of the top three most frequently encountered litter items. 80% of this litter ends up in our oceans which is incredibly costly and difficult, if not impossible to remove, devastating coast lines and harming marine life which in turn means plastic is entering our food chain, damaging our health.

Jodie McAneaney, Live Here Love Here Manager commented at the launch: "The time is now for preventative steps to reduce, reuse and recycle the plastics we use. The Big Spring Clean is a great opportunity to raise awareness of the issues here in Northern Ireland and record our findings so that we can take steps to improve. It's also great to get all the volunteers together to discuss the issues surrounding plastic litter and give our parks, forests and beaches a Big Spring Clean before the Easter Break so that people can enjoy the outdoors."

Volunteers can organise their own local clean-ups or email enquiries@liveherelovehere.org to register.



(JG/CM)