All the news and happenings from the local villages

Indoor boot sale

Derrykeighan Community Association are holding an indoor car boot sale and fun day on Saturday 28th September, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tables are £5 each - to book your space please contact Joanne Knox on 07719801384. Limited outdoor space also available. Further details to follow.

Christmas

shopping trip

Derrykeighan Community Association will hold their annual shopping trip to Belfast on Saturday 30th November.

Bus will leave Derrykeighan at 8.30 a.m., leaving Belfast at 4.30 p.m.

Seats are priced at £10 each. To book your space please contact Joanne Knox on 07719801384.

BALLYMONEY

Riada Probus

Following a Club Breakfast and an interesting and informative talk by Stephanie Leckey on behalf of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, Riada Probus Club member James Cooper, a retired shopkeeper and watch repairer, was elected President of the Club until the end of 2013 (PICTURED RIGHT).

This premature election was required owing to the relocation of the current President, Dr Robert Livingston, who is movi ng to Inverness. Robert was a founder member and has served the Club as Secretary for most of their eight years of existence, and had already served as President during 2012.

Wishing him well and expressing gratitude for his years of dedicated service he was presented with a gift on behalf of the members by another Past President, Mr Samuel Pollock.

rathlin

Lighthouse plans

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster has launched a Lighthouse Tourism Trail during a visit to Blackhead Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse Trail is being supported with £2.2million of financial assistance from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The first phase of the project involves three lighthouse properties in Northern Ireland － Rathlin West Lighthouse, Rathlin Island; Blackhead Lighthouse, Co. Antrim and St. John’s Point Lighthouse, Co. Down, as well as two in the Republic of Ireland.

Arlene Foster said: “Many of our local lighthouses are historic and beautiful buildings that play an important role in coastal navigation. Not only do they stand tall as reminders of our proud maritime history but they also offer significant tourism potential.”

NORTH ANTRIM

Post concerns

Moyle SDLP Councillor Dónal Cunningham said:

“The privatisation of Postal Services currently being discussed at Westminster would be another nail in the coffin of the rural communities if it is allowed to go ahead. A reduced and more expensive postal service in rural areas is a real risk.

“Privatisation is not the key to the future of the postal services.  It would be a disaster for many people who would find themselves paying a great deal more for their services and for others it would mean the end of services altogether in their communities.

“The public who depend on the post office should be making their views known to their elected representatives so that the maximum pressure is put on the British Government to scrap their privatisation plans and accept that there are other better ways to modernise the postal services which are now at risk.”

cushendall

Housing thanks

Glens Sinn Fein councillor Margaret Anne McKillop would like to thank the Housing Executive for agreeing to a site meeting regarding steps in Moyle View Cushendall. A concerned resident was in contact with councillor McKillop about the state of these steps,.

Said the councillor: “The steps are all different sizes and pose a health and safety risk. NIHE have agreed a programme of work to commence on these steps and the contractor has stated work will commence on 16th September, weather permitting.

“It has been agreed that the structure of the steps would be changed with a continued step being implemented in concrete. The hand rail is also going to be replaced as the old one is wobbling”.

Councillor McKillop has said she looks forward to seeing the end product and on behalf of Sinn Fein and residents would like to thank the Housing Executive again and looks forward to working with them again in the future.

MOYLE

WiFi camping

Glens Sinn Fein councillor Colum Thompson has welcomed the completion of a project which sees the installation of WIFI internet access at both Cushendall and Cushendun caravan sites. Speaking about the project which has now been completed Councillor Thompson (PICTURED RIGHT) said “The installation of WIFI is an excellent development for both Cushendall and Cushendun caravan parks. Modern holidaymakers expect this type of service where they can use the internet to send and receive e-mails, use social media and stay in touch with friends and family.

“It is important to move with the times, other caravan parks along the NorthCoast were beginning to offer this service and it was essential that Moyle District Council also offer this service to maintain our place as one of the top destinations for those on caravan and camping holidays.

“Both caravan sites now have excellent WIFI coverage with Cushendun achieving 98% coverage and Cushendall 99% and this should help us to increase tourist and user numbers at both locations in the coming years.”

KILLYRAMMER

Water power

APPROVAL has been given by planners for a micro-hydro electric power generation system on the Breckagh Burn in Killyrammer. The applicant is Marshall Patton.

cloughmills

Wind power

APPROVAL has been given by planners for a wind turbine near Corkey Road at Carnagall, Cloughmills. The applicant is Alexander McCollum.

BALLYMONEY

60 objections..but

PLANNERS are of the opinion to approve a residential developpment of six dwellings at 105 Charlotte Street, Ballymoney, despite 60 letters of objection. The applicant is Copperfield Homes Ltd.

DERVOCK

Houses ‘refusal’

PLANNERS are of the opinion to refuse a plan for 24 sem-=detached dwellings at 231 Castlecatt Road, Dervock.

The applicant is JG Bradley Ltd butplanners say the scheme would result in “over develpopment”; that there is unsatisfactory road access and the appropriate waste water treatment/sewerage capacity is unavailable.

ballymoney

Bats ‘refusal’

PLANNERS are of the opinion to refuse a plan for the replacement of an existing agriculture stone barn at 76 Carrowreagh Road, Mullaghaduff, Ballymoney. The applicants are Mr and Mrs D Hogg.

Planners said information has been submitted to allow the Department to determine the potential impact on bats.

Planners also said the applicants have failed to provide sufficient information to confirm that there are no suitable existing buildings on the holding that can be used.

ballymoney

Charity dance

A DANCE in aid of the Court Care Home will be held in Ballymoney British Legion on Friday 20 September.

Music by Aidan Canning and tickets are £5, which includes an apple tart supper. You can also pay at the door.

All proceeds will go towards the Court Care Home Comfort Fund.

balNAMORE

Old Time dance

An Old Tyme Dance will be held in Balnamore Community Centre on Tuesday, October 8th from 7.30pm - 11pm.

Transport will be provided. Call 028 827663308 to book. Admission is £4 including supper. Everyone welcome.

ballymoney

Dalraida debaters

Nine members of the Dalriada Debating Society are to leave this Thursday for the National Finals of the European Youth Parliament competition.  Sixteen teams will come together at Liverpool Hope University for four days of discussion and debate on the key issues that affect the European Union. Dalriada’s representatives (pictured right) - Susanna Peden, Emma Jones, Parisa Robinson, Lilli Meldrum, Manon Eymere, Robbie Craig, Calum Telfer, Ryan Ennis and Mark Scott – will assume the role of the EU Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and will take part in debates on topics as varied as human trafficking, Europe’s relations with Brazil, and stem cell research.  They will also take part in a series of team-building exercises designed to create a sense of intellectual and social cohesion between the various debaters, including a karaoke session and a Beatles-themed partand now I just want to be there’. 

BALLYMONEY

Burglary

Police are investigating a burglary at a house in the Semicock Road area of Ballymoney on Monday 02 September. Police believe that alcohol was taken during the incident. Witnesses to the incident are sought.

BUSHMILLS

Batteries stolen

On Friday, September 6th, police received a report that two batteries had been stolen from a digger parked overnight at a property on the Moycraig Road, Bushmills.