THE future of Ards Magistrate’s Court is hanging in the balance due to the latest round of government cutbacks, it has emerged this week. It appears that uncertain times are ahead for staff at the Regent Street courthouse which could be set to close its doors as part of the government’s drive to save cash. However…
Commander leaves as local policing reorganised
THE PSNI senior management team in North Down and Ards is to change to align with the new council structures effective from April 1, as part of the biggest shake-up in policing in Northern Ireland in years. Revealing changes to front-line service delivery across Northern Ireland, Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin yesterday (Wednesday) outlined response…
‘Deathtrap’ Dufferin corner has pedestrians suffering
BANGOR’S £8m revamp has turned this main pedestrian route into the town centre into a potential deathtrap. That’s according to one local councillor, who was joined by members of the public who all say they’re coming close to falling every time they try to walk on this corner at the top of Dufferin Avenue. The…
Chamber’s call for businesses to help plan Bangor’s future
BANGOR’S Chamber of Commerce is looking for town centre businesses to help them battle past one of the toughest years they’ve ever suffered. Businesses all over the centre of Bangor got a literal sledgehammering this year as the £8m public realm revamp tooled up – and according to some traders, the knock-on effect demolished up…
Operation Shutdown
It’s official - plans for shutdown of Bangor 20-bed inpatient unit Plans are afoot to shut Bangor Hospital’s 20-bed inpatient unit, it has emerged - on the very day that consultations which the public hope will save it were announced. The Health Trust, which operates the hospital, revealed yesterday (Wednesday) that its prefered option is…
TV series relives Ireland’s Great War
FOR nearly a century Ireland’s story of the Great War has been largely overlooked. Between 1914 and 1918 over 200,000 Irishmen, from North, South, East and West, marched to war – men unified in their commitment to fight and deeply divided on their reasons for doing so. Now a major new two-part series on BBC…
First minister at Aurora
Boxing Clever! First Minister Peter Robinson needed to pull no political punches when he visited Bangor Aurora yesterday (Wednesday) but happily met his match with Chris Kelly, commercial manager for Northern Community Leisure Trust, Luke Jennings and Alaa Eissa in the gym’s new boxing room. C53-29-01
CS Lewis Challenge inspires all the write stuff for young
A NOVEL idea, which inspired 500 North Down primary school pupils to read a local children’s classic to help improve their literacy skills, has proved to be a bestseller success. The P5 pupils from across the borough were encouraged to help open a new chapter in their school careers by reading The Lion, The Witch…