Other News In Brief

UUP Calls For Urgent Action On Duty Free Shopping

The Ulster Unionist Party has called for urgent action on reinstating duty free shopping at NI's three airports for flights to the EU.

The party's Economy spokesperson Mike Nesbitt said: "Outside of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Northern Ireland is the second most dependent UK region on air travel, and the absence of duty free shopping is an unwelcome incentive to travellers to choose airports in the Republic of Ireland, where savings on duty free goods can actually cover the costs of flights.

"The Prime Minister suggested the Windsor Framework represented the best of both worlds. But for Belfast International, Belfast City and City of Derry airports, the current duty free regime is the worst of both worlds. It is an anomaly that requires an urgent fix."

PSNI Investigating Arson Attack In Waterside Area Of L'Derry

The PSNI have issued an appeal for information and witnesses following an arson attack in the Waterside area of the city.

Police were on patrol, driving across the Foyle Bridge at around 5.20am this morning, Wednesday 2nd August, when they spotted a large volume of smoke coming from Strathfoyle. When they arrived in the area, they located a caravan on fire in Stradowen Drive. NIFRS were alerted and extinguished the blaze. A small number of homes were evacuated as emergency services dealt with the incident, and police thank those people impacted for their patience as the incident was dealt with. No one was in the caravan at the time, and there have been no reports of any injuries.

At this time, detectives from Strand Road Criminal Investigation Branch are treating the fire as arson.

Detective Sergeant Ballentine said: "We are extremely grateful for the quick actions of our officers, and for the swift response from the Fire Service in bringing the situation under control.

"However, given the close proximity from where the caravan was parked and to homes in the area, we are incredibly fortunate that the fire didn't spread further, and that no one was injured.

"Our officers have been in the area conducting enquiries, and we're appealing to anyone with information, or who saw anything suspicious from around 5am to 5.20am, to get in touch with us. We'd also ask anyone with CCTV or doorbell cameras to check their footage for any suspicious activity."

The number to call with information is 101, quoting reference 210 of 02/08/23. You can submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/

A1 Safety Works Impacted By DUP Boycott

The DUP's ongoing political boycott is impacting planned safety improvements to the A1, Lagan Valley MLA, Sorcha Eastwood has said.

The planned work is the second phase of a project to provide further safety improvements along the A1 dual carriageway between Hillsborough and Loughbrickland. The improvements are to include closing gaps in the central reservation and the provision of a continuous central safety barrier.

Eastwood said; "This is an incredibly dangerous stretch of road. In 2018 the Department released a review of road traffic collisions on the carriageway and between 2009 and 2018 there were 41 people killed and 133 seriously injured. Tragically there have been more deaths since 2018."

"Staff within DfI have been progressing with plans, however, the next stage will require Ministerial sign-off and that obviously can't be done due to the DUP's boycott. This is just one example of the harmful outworkings of the DUP's refusal to go into Government."

"To delay this kind of project, which is focused on improving road safety and avoiding further tragic injuries and deaths is shameful."

"I am writing to the Permanent Secretary to explore if there are any other ways to keep the project moving forward and I will also speak to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. We need to find ways to keep essential projects like this progressing."