Other NI News In Brief

Westlink Third Lane Opens On Monday

The M1/Westlink third lane to traffic will be open next Monday (1 December). This is the next significant change in the management of the traffic through the works site as the works progress towards completion early next year. Roads Service's Westlink Project Manager Roy Spiers said: "Roads Service and the contractor HMC have, throughout the works, committed to making road space available to traffic as soon as it is possible to do so and I am pleased with this next step in the project. The opening of the third lane will provide additional road space and even though this is the busiest time of the year, road users should notice an improvement in journey times." Road users are reminded that while the three lanes will be opened to traffic, the M1/Westlink between Stockman's Lane and Divis Street remains a construction site and road works will be continuing along this stretch of road over the coming months.

Cameron For UU Conference

Conservative Party leader David Cameron is to address the Ulster Unionist Party conference in December. Last week the two parties entered into an electoral pact which will lead to them fielding joint candidates in European and general elections.

Du Pont Takes Extended Festive Break

A leading manufacturer, DuPont, is taking very long Christmas holidays indeed and is to shut down for four weeks. The move is because of a drop in demand for its products. The company, which manufacturers Kevlar, employs 185 people at its Maydown plant, outside Londonderry. DuPont confirmed that normal plant operations will resume on 1 January.

Warning After Care Homes Group Prosecuted

Care homes in Northern Ireland have been urged by the Health and Safety Executive to ensure bedrails are properly installed. The Execuitve said a risk of entrapment exists if measures are not put in place to reduce and control dangers. HSENI’s warning comes after the prosecution of Four Seasons Healthcare (Northern Ireland) Limited earlier this month. The company was fined a total of £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £160 at Ballymena Magistrates Court.

Customers First, Says SSA

The Social Security Agency has launched a package of proposals aimed at improving services for customers of its local office network. Services will be enhanced with significant improvements in telephony, appointment booking and online provision. The proposals will mean no office closures, no redundancies for staff and face-to-face services for customers will continue to be available as normal. There are also proposals to centralise a number of back-office processing functions.

(BMcC/KMcA)