Other News In Brief

Disruption Expected As Work Continues On North-West Transport Hub

Various Translink services to L'Derry face disruption over the coming weeks as work on the North-West Transport Hub at the Waterside Train Station continues.

The ongoing work will require a scheduled line closure, in place from the evening of Tuesday 08 October until Sunday 20 October inclusive. This is to facilitate essential track and signalling work as part of the major project.

Bus substitutions will be in place during this closure – Ulsterbus service 734 will travel between Castlerock and Coleraine Bus and Rail Centre, with Ulsterbus service 735 travelling between Coleraine and L'Derry via Limavady Bus Centre. Customers who would normally travel to and from Bellarena should be aware that bus substitutions will serve Limavady Bus Station throughout this period and that Bellarena will not be served.

Scheduled Ulsterbus services can also be used as follows:

• Ulsterbus service 134 – Coleraine to Limavady via Coast Road

• Ulsterbus service 143/144 – L'Derry to Limavady

• Ulsterbus service 234 – L'Derry to Coleraine via Mountain Road

Valid rail tickets will be accepted on rail substitution bus services and scheduled Ulsterbus services 134, 143/144 and 234 only. Passengers travelling directly between L'Derry and Belfast can use Goldline Express Services 212, although users should note that rail tickets are not valid for use on 212 services.

Timetable information can be viewed online.

NI Children's Hospice Gains First Platinum Partner

The Northern Ireland Children's hospice has gained its first platinum partner in Aquatwist water- with joint branding to be displayed on each bottle on sale from November.

The hospice, which provides comfort, quality of life care and family support for children, hopes the heightened publicity gained from the partnership will increase brand awareness. Aquatwist mineral water is sold in convenience stores throughout Northern Ireland.

Gary Taylor, Director at Aquatwist, explained how the firm got involved with the hospice: "When John heard Fiona (NI Hospice Corporate Engagement Executive) speak at the Lynas Foodservice golf tournament in May, he rang me on the way home to say that we just had to do something to help the Children's Hospice. He told me how little funding is received from the government and the enormous amount of money that has to be raised each year just to keep the service going, which I wasn't aware of. I went and looked at our numbers, got in touch with Fiona and the rest is history! Giving back always feels good and knowing that we are making a small difference in this way means the world to us both."

£2.2m Project To Deliver Homes For Belfast's Elderly

Work has begun to build a host of new homes for elderly people in Belfast.

The £2.2 million project on Barnetts Road in the east of the city will see the development of 14 properties for independent, older tenants.

Alpha Housing and Dunrich Properties are collaborating on the scheme, incorporating the 'HAPPI principles', which provides a blueprint for high-quality housing for people in later life.

The development will feature generous internal space, maximum use of natural light, and a design that incorporates trees and shrubs to enhance the local environment.

The scheme is being supported with £1.4m in Department for Communities' (DfC) grant through the Housing Executive, with the balance of funding provided by local housing association Alpha Housing.

John Clarke, Chairman at Alpha Housing, commented: "Alpha Housing is proud to be helping pioneer a new generation of housing for older people in Northern Ireland, starting with the Barnetts Road project. We believe there is a huge unmet need for spacious and attractive homes of this type, situated close to local amenities and transport links."

The Barnetts Road homes are expected to be completed by December 2020.



(JG/CM)