Monthly Archives: October 2018

A new community garden has been unveiled at Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association’s headquarters and sheltered scheme in Carrickfergus. BBC Radio Ulster Gardener’s Corner presenter, David Maxwell, officially opened Wesley Court Community Garden, as part of Abbeyfield’s ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ programme. (back row l-r) Roy Beggs MLA; David Maxwell, BBC Radio Ulster Gardener’s Corner presenter; Paula Bradley MLA; Geraldine Gilpin, chief executive, Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association; Barbara Kelso, garden designer with students from Carrick Model Primary School at the official opening of the new community garden. Geraldine Gilpin, chief executive, Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association, explained: “Research has proved that being outdoors has positive effects on health and wellbeing. There had been a large expanse of grass at the front of Rocklands House at the Wesley Court sheltered scheme which provided an attractive area of greenery, but which was not actually used. The management board was keen to transform the lawn … Continue reading →

“Punishment attacks” carried out by paramilitaries by arrangement have taken place in Larne and Carrick, the PSNI has confirmed. Five beatings have been reported to police in Mid and East Antrim during the past 12 months, compared to 17 and two shootings during the previous year. Last month, police stated that paramilitaries were responsible for leaving a victim in Larne, man aged in his 20s, with “life-changing injuries” after being beaten in a “brutal” sledgehammer attack by a group of men in a house, at Woodvale, in the Tullygarley area of the town. A PSNI spokesperson said: “The man, aged in his 20s, sustained injuries to his legs and arms and is being treated in hospital for what are described as life-changing injuries. “This was a brutal attack which is being treated as a paramilitary-style assault.” Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs described the beating as “barbaric”. He added: “PSNI statistics … Continue reading →

A new community garden has been unveiled at Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association’s headquarters and sheltered scheme in Carrickfergus. BBC Radio Ulster Gardener’s Corner presenter, David Maxwell, officially opened Wesley Court Community Garden, as part of Abbeyfield’s ‘Breath of Fresh Air’ programme. (back row l-r) Roy Beggs MLA; David Maxwell, BBC Radio Ulster Gardener’s Corner presenter; Paula Bradley MLA; Geraldine Gilpin, chief executive, Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association; Barbara Kelso, garden designer with students from Carrick Model Primary School at the official opening of the new community garden. Geraldine Gilpin, chief executive, Abbeyfield Wesley Housing Association, explained: “Research has proved that being outdoors has positive effects on health and wellbeing. There had been a large expanse of grass at the front of Rocklands House at the Wesley Court sheltered scheme which provided an attractive area of greenery, but which was not actually used. The management board was keen to transform the lawn … Continue reading →

Image copyright Getty Images New home building could be severely impacted by a lack of capacity at more than 70 sewage treatment works across Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Water has advised no new homes be connected to the waste water network in affected areas. It means developers would have to fund and build their own private sewage treatment works. NI Water said it would take an extra £140m to sort out. The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted. NI Water has warned that if money is not found to deal with the problem it will have a clear impact on economic development in towns and villages. Larne, Lurgan, Dungannon and Limavady are among the areas affected. In August, BBC News NI reported that new housing developments had been banned in Saintfield, County Down, over the issue. ‘Urgent attention’ Sara Venning, chief executive of NI Water, warned it only had enough … Continue reading →