Other News In Brief

Man Charged Under Charities Law

Anti-terror detectives have charged a man under charities law.

The 45-year-old is due to appear at Craigavon Magistrates Court on 26 June after he was charged under the Charities (NI) Act 2008.

He has also been reported for a number of theft, fraud and perjury offences which relate to the same investigation, the PSNI has said.

Burst Water Main Repaired In Belfast City Centre

A NI Water project team has worked through the night to repair a burst main in Belfast city centre.

A water main in Royal Avenue burst yesterday, 30 May, leaving some nearby properties without supply.

The repair was completed at 2am this morning, 31 May.

Explaining the work, Head of Water at NI Water, Brian McCalmont said: "The team had worked through yesterday evening and late into the night to complete the repair and ensure water was restored to customers in the city centre area ready for this morning's trade. The work involved deep and difficult excavation of the site. Work is currently ongoing to complete the permanent restoration of the road."

Some resurfacing work and resetting of brick paviours will be scheduled in the near future, once traffic management arrangements are in place. 

Translink To Introduce Urby Services In Dromore & Hillsborough

Translink has announced the introduction of Urby 651a services to Dromore and Hillsborough from Monday 03 June following a successful trial period.

First introduced last year, Urby is a modern new service that connects people who live in towns on the periphery of Belfast and travel into the city for work, study or leisure activities. 

This service will operate from Dromore, stopping in Hillsborough before running express using the newly extended M1 bus lane to the Europa Buscentre in Belfast

Translink Bus Services Southern Area Manager Arthur Hamilton said: "Urby is proving popular with our passengers who are enjoying faster journeys, greater frequency and comfortable leather seating with free wi-fi and usb charging ports, on environmentally friendly buses.

"We ran a trial of Urby services from Dromore and Hillsborough to Belfast in February and received an extremely positive response from our customers. I am delighted to announce that as a result of this positive feedback, we will be introducing half-hourly services at peak times Monday to Friday from Monday, 3rd June.

"Thousands of additional passengers have made Urby their first choice for travel on routes between Ballyclare and Belfast; and Newtownards and Belfast as well as from Park and Ride facilities at Blacks Road and Cairnshill."

Arthur concluded: "We believe people are becoming 'smarter' travellers as there is increasing discontent with the daily car commute. More people are looking for ways to get more 'me time', and Urby gives them that and more - for many it also helps them find the time for a more active and healthy lifestyle."



(JG/MH)