Other News In Brief

Winners Of Council Parks Photographic Competition Announced

Belfast City Council has announced the winners of their Parks Photographic Competition 2020-2021.

Sponsored by John McQuillan Contracts, the competition received more than 200 entrants and over 800 images submitted across the four categories - Park Landscapes, People in Our Parks, Best Black and White Image and Under 16s. The winners shared a prize fund of £1,000.

Judging took place recently by Aurora PA and a representative from John McQuillan Contracts Ltd with the winners determined as:

• Park Landscapes

1st  Matthew Grimley – Cave Hill Country Park

2nd  William Corr – Cave Hill Country Park

3rd Conor Lundy – Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

• People in Our Parks

1st Scott McCutcheon – Ormeau Park

2nd Stephen Deyermond – Cave Hill Country Park

3rd Mervyn Marshall – Orangefield Park

• Best Black and White Image

1st Peter Soult– Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

2nd Aleksander Bartusik – Ormeau Park

3rd Bruce Marshall – Waterworks

• Under 16s

1st Shannon O'Brien – Barnett Demesne 

2nd Izzy Walsh – Cregagh Glen

3rd Shreya Ananth – Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park

The winning entries are available to view at Parks Photography Competition 2020-2021 winners | Flickr

SDLP Question SF Over Inaction On Winter Energy Supports

SDLP have question Sinn Féin why they have yet to bring forward any concrete proposals to support people dealing with the energy crisis this winter.

SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan aid that it had been reported Sinn Féin Minister Hargey was bringing forward a support scheme, but it is yet to materialise.

Mr Durkan was speaking after the SDLP published its energy costs action plan.

He said time was fast running out to get support to the people who need it.

Foyle MLA Mr Durkan said: "We are already half way through December and have experienced a number of very cold weather spells and still no support from Minister Hargey has been forthcoming. Despite reports that some form of support would be made available to those who need it nothing has materialised and families across the North have been left feeling abandoned.

"The huge spike in energy bills alongside the cost of living crisis and Sinn Féin-approved £20 weekly cut to Universal Credit has left many people struggling. It is getting harder and harder for everyone, particularly those on low-incomes, to heat their homes and families are being left with very difficult decisions to make this Christmas in order to stay safe and healthy and keep food on the table.

"In stark contrast to Minister Hargey's inaction, the SDLP last week published a nine-point plan aiming to get people through the toughest winter in recent memory and to address the long-standing issues around fuel poverty in the North. When people are suffering we can not just stand by and do nothing, we have seen initiatives to help people in the South and we need to see similar plans in the North.

"I'm urging Minister Hargey to look at our energy costs action plan and bring forward proposals to help people mitigate this crisis before its too late. Families are under increasing pressure from all sides and we have an obligation to do everything we can to help."

Green Party MLA Joins Stormont Environmental Protest

Green Party MLA Rachel Woods has joined young people protesting outside Stormont calling for a more ambitious Environment Strategy for Northern Ireland.

The protest was organised by the RSPB in response to the draft Environment Strategy launched by Minister Edwin Poots launched last month.

The North Down MLA, who chairs Stormont's All-Party Group on Climate Action, said: "The five-party Executive has consistently failed in its duty to protect Northern Ireland's environment. Minister Poot's weak draft Environment Strategy certainly fails to do what's needed to change the Executive's direction.

"The strategy falls far short of what has been recommended by independent advisory bodies. For example, The Woodland Trust has said that Northern Ireland needs to aim for woodland levels of 16% to 18%, but the draft strategy just proposes increasing our woodland cover from 8% to 8.8% by 2030.

"Northern Ireland has the highest per capita greenhouse emissions in the UK and Ireland – our poor air quality is anticipated to cause 84,000 new cases of disease by 2035. Up to seven million tonnes of raw sewage is released into our waterways each year, resulting in none of our rivers, lakes or costal waters meeting even basic ‘good' quality standards. Northern Ireland is the twelfth worst place in the world for biodiversity loss.

"We are clearly in the midst of a climate emergency, but the Executive parties are still not responding to this crisis with the urgency required. Vague and unambitious strategies are no substitute for the robust net-zero climate legislation Northern Ireland needs. The Green Party NI is leading on delivering a cross-party net-zero Climate Change Bill, which I am hopeful will be passed by the Assembly in the new year."