Other News In Brief

Great Tower Reopens At Carrickfergus Castle

A £1 million conservation project has reached completion at Carrickfergus Castle, allowing the Great Tower to officially reopen to the public.

Work began in 2019 to construct a new roof on the 800-year-old landmark after leaks at the ancient property.

Irish Oak forms the main timbers of the roof structure, while the main trusses of the new roof are made from unseasoned Irish Oak trees that fell naturally in Storm Ophelia in 2017.

The new roof was inspired by contemporary construction designs and techniques of the time.

Speaking at the reopening today, 26 February, Minister for Communities Deirdre Hargey MLA said: "This investment has secured the future of this important monument and prevented irreparable damage to the structure. Archaeologists and conservation architects within the Department worked together to design a historically appropriate roof. What has been achieved is an outstanding piece of architecture that safeguards this important and historic place.

"The project has been designed to be sustainable on many levels. The materials used are durable, traditional materials. The oak used for the roof is from a sustainable source."

The Minister added: "Heritage forms a key component of our tourism economy. Carrickfergus is the gateway to the Causeway Coastal Route and I am keen that this iconic castle continues to be marketed as a must see destination which attracts additional visitors to the area.

"Monuments such as this also contribute to our health and wellbeing – walking around the sites, sharing of stories across generations about our history and heritage."

Local councillor Maureen Morrow also voiced delight at the works.

"Over the past year we have seen the bustle of activity on this project around the castle, and the public outreach work for the project captured people's imaginations far and wide. The main building work happened behind the castle walls, and today we can now see first-hand the transformation of this space," she commented.

Council Warns Over Postcode Lottery Scam

Ards and North Down residents are urged to be aware of a fraudulent postcode lottery letter that's believed to be circulating in the area.

The seemingly professional document was posted to a Bangor resident using their personal address with reference numbers, signatures and stamps that appeared authentic.

Alleging that the individual had won a lump sum of £900,000, it advised them to contact a specific address to claim their winnings.

A council spokesperson to Facebook with a warning.

"This letter was received at the home of one of our Bangor residents this week and he has forwarded it on to us," they said.

"We have removed the resident's name and address, and have blanked out the contact numbers in case anyone is tempted, as we assume they are key parts of this scam.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"

Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and approach all unsolicited letters and correspondence with suspicion.

Lighting Improvements For Bangor-Belfast Route

The busy A2 route from Bangor to Belfast is set to undergo significant lighting upgrades.

A £150,000 street lighting scheme has been announced for the road, which will see new LED technology installed to improve the key route.

This will involve the installation of 36 new street lighting columns with new LED lights on both the eastbound and westbound carriageways between the Holywood Exchange off slip and Sullivan Place, near the train station.

Work on the Bangor-bound carriageway will begin on Monday 02 March and will continue until Friday 03 April, while work on the Belfast-bound carriageway will be completed between Monday 23 March and Friday 17 April.

During these dates it will be necessary to implement a series of lane closures between 9.30 am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

The Department for Infrastructure has advised road users to expect some delays and allow additional time when travelling in the area.



(JG/MH)