Other News In Brief

Patients Deserve Health Funding Requested By Minister- SDLP

Local patients and healthcare staff deserve the funding requested by Northern Ireland's Health Minister to continue service provision, an SDLP MLA has claimed.

Sinead Bradley welcomed Minister Swann's frank statement that set out budget requirements of over £660 million to maintain the status quo, tackle waiting lists and deliver on demands for safe staffing and pay parity.

"Patients and staff have suffered over the last number of years and we owe it to them to do all we can, in terms of unlocking resources and making key decisions, to get our health service back up off its knees," the party's Health Spokesperson said.

"We all know that our health service has suffered over a decade of Tory austerity and three years of no government to make decisions. It is welcome that all parties in the Assembly have committed to making health a political priority and this must be reflected in the budget next week, with health getting the resources it badly needs.

"This does not include meeting the many important commitments, including IVF expansion and waiting list reduction, outlined in the New Decade, New Approach document."

NI Water Issues Safety Advice

NI Water has issued some vital advice about the dangers of playing near treatment works, reservoirs and construction sites.

A team behind the £2 million flood scheme in Ballymena visited the site of a local school to remind pupils of how to stay safe.

This major project will bring many benefits to the area, including reducing the future risk of flooding, as well as increasing the capacity of the existing sewerage system. The scheme will continue until Spring 2020.

The project involves the upgrade of existing sewers, as well as the installation of new sewers on Wakehurst Park, Wakehurst Road, Queen Street and Toome Road. Construction of a large underground storage tank is also underway on land adjacent to the council playing fields at Wakehurst Road.

Richard Nevin, NI Water Project Manager, explained: "Understandably, natural curiosity will draw children and young people towards some of our sites, particularly with construction well underway at the Wakehurst Road. However, these are not playgrounds and fooling around at or near them can have very serious consequences.

"I would urge all parents to explain to their children the dangers of playing in or around these areas. The remoteness of many of our sites could hamper and delay rescue attempts, should such a need arise."

NI Water has put forward five steps on how to stay safe as the mid-term break approaches.

1. Don't climb on barriers and fences - They are there to protect you from serious injury and accidents when NI Water construction work is going on.

2. Stay away from trenches and open manholes - They are dirty, deep and dangerous. They may also contain hazardous gases.

3. Be careful near roads - never run out from behind parked vans or lorries as you could be knocked down and injured.

4. Keep clear of equipment - You may see diggers, lorries, pipes and other equipment, but don't be tempted - steer clear and don't touch!

5. Obey 'Danger' signs - reservoirs and treatment works can be very dangerous places, so stay well away and always obey the warning signs.

Belfast Planning Committee Doubles Productivity

Planning decisions reached in Belfast have doubled over the last year.

The latest figures from Belfast City Council's Planning Committee show a huge burst in productivity, with the average time taken to process applications more than halved from 78 to 37 weeks.

Chair of Belfast City Council's Planning Committee, Councillor Arder Carson said: "I'm very pleased indeed with the work of the Planning Committee over the last year. Our role is a crucial one, as we're responsible for making decisions on significant, sometimes contentious applications – and our decisions support the ambitions of the city's development plan, The Belfast Agenda. We remain focused on providing an excellent planning service and making the application process as smooth, yet robust as possible."

Additional data also reveals a decrease in the average time taken to process local applications, from 15.2 weeks to 13.8 weeks.

The Council's Planning Committee has processed applications for over 1,100 homes, two warehouse buildings, sports pitches, public realm improvements, student accommodation, restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities.



(JG/CM)