Ulster Bank approach betrays an utter lack of social responsibility

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne has said that he is disappointed by the attitude of Ulster Bank following a meeting this morning where he pushed for the retention of services in their Gortin branch.

Ulster Bank has previously indicated that they intend to close the branch servicing the rural village.

Mr Byrne said

“Following the announcement of the closure of several Ulster Bank branches across the North, I was keen to meet with bank officials to pursue the retention of services for the rural area surrounding Gortin. Banking facilities are vital to the lives of small towns and villages across the region and Gortin is no exception.

“I met with officials today and made clear our frustrations with both the process and the outcome of the cavalier decision to close this branch. Ulster Bank saw fit to consult with none of their local customers prior to making this decision and made the announcement of the closure in the media where local people were left to deal with it.

 “Their approach betrays an utter lack of social responsibility. This is a geographically remote and isolated part of the North. Local services like banking are the lifeblood of villages and towns like Gortin and Ulster Bank have decided to cut it off.

“I have asked bank officials to seriously consider retaining a part time service at the Gortin branch. Mondays and Fridays remain the busiest banking days and it may therefore be more viable to open the local bank on those days, offering the company savings and local people an accessible service. I will continue to press for this option to be taken up and look forward to working more constructively with the officials in the weeks and months ahead.”

McCrossan selected to contest West Tyrone Westminster seat

Daniel McCrossan has been selected by SDLP members in West Tyrone to contest next year’s Westminster election.

Speaking after his selection, Mr McCrossan said:

“I am deeply honoured to have been selected by party members in West Tyrone to contest next year’s Westminster election. I plan to repay the faith they have shown in me with a fighting campaign to bring representation back to this part of the North and ensure the voices of local people are heard at the highest levels.

“It has been my great privilege to work with the people of Strabane and Omagh over the last number of years offering support and advice on everything from jobs and benefits to planning and education. Along with other members of the SDLP, we’ve put our shoulders to the wheel to make sure West Tyrone gets the best deal from local councils and from the Assembly. 

“Unfortunately an abstentionist MP has stunted the growth of our towns and singularly failed to advance the interests of the North/West one bit. It’s time to change that. The big decisions that can transform our area, for better or for worse, are taken at Westminster. Welfare reform, corporation tax, freezing fuel bills, the annual budget- these are all issues that can make a real difference to the vulnerable here.

“As a West Tyrone MP, I’ll put people first. We need a robust investment package to create new jobs, form a wage subsidy scheme to lift low paid workers out of poverty and support new graduates into full time employment. My priority is creating communities that people want to live and work in. With the support of local people, I’ll drive a hard bargain with any future Westminster government.”

Byrne: DARD Minister needs to be active in Europe on Dairy Crisis

Joe Byrne SDLP MLA and vice chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee voiced his concern over the increasing strain on the dairy industry. Mr Byrne said:

“The time has come for the Agriculture Minister to lead a delegation to Brussels on the current farming crisis within the Dairy Milk Industry.

“For months the price of farm gate milk has dropped to 24/25 pence per litre, about 3 pence below the cost of production. This is causing big cash flow problems for many of our dairy farmers. The Ukraine political turmoil which has resulted in the Russian imports ban on EU food products has depressed milk and dairy produce prices on the world market.

“EU action is now needed on this matter with national and regional governments in order to deal with the milk crisis as it affects farmers. Concerted action is needed, and indeed direct intervention is now required with adequate financial resources to stabilise the market. A private storage scheme of Intervention along with export grants is needed over the next year in order to stabilise the milk market across Europe.

''Dard must give a lead on this issue and by some positive action signal to the farming community that the Assembly and the Department of Agriculture are willing to fight for farmers in London and Brussels.

“DARD indifference on the plight of the dairy farmer is now in question on this issue. Dairy farmers and the Agri sector need to see the Minister of Agriculture, Assembly and DARD dealing with the poor farm gate prices as a current priority. They need to know their interests are being protected at the highest level.''

SDLP: Robbery of four elderly pensioners despicable and cowardly

Detectives in Strabane are appealing for information after four elderly brothers and sisters were robbed in their home outside Clady. The incident occurred yesterday evening when a masked gang entered the property on the Tullymoan Road and held the family up using tools they found in the farm yard.

Joe Byrne MLA Condemning burglary said, “Early Monday morning I learned of the sickening news that four elderly residents living together on a farm in Clady, were left shaken and annoyed following the forced entry and burglary of their home.”

“It is understood that four men entered the house on the Tullymoan Road with a ‘grape’ lifted from the farm yard and threatened the elderly residents who lived there.”

“This was quite simply a reckless attack by four thuggish cowards who quite clearly identified the residents as elderly and vulnerable before targeting their homestead.”

“Sadly an elderly gentleman sustained some minor injuries and force was used with an elderly lady. The four men then made off with a small sum of money in a black car towards Clady.”

“The Christmas period is fast approaching and the dark nights have arrived. I would urge everyone to ensure their homes are secure and to be extremely vigilant when opening doors to strangers, especially in rural areas. If anyone is living next to elderly or vulnerable residents please look in on them and keep a close eye to strange activity.”

“I would strongly urge anyone with information to come forward to the PSNI.”

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: DUP/SF – THE PLAYGROUND POLITICS OF THE PATHETIC

November 25, 2014

The disgusting and despicable actions of Gregory Campbell and Gerry Adams over the last 48 hours must not extinguish our hope of building a united and shared society.

Our people throughout the North must ask themselves one honest question. What do we want for our children’s future? Do we want our children to suffer the same economic and social depression as we currently endure? Those are hard questions, but one we must seriously consider in order to move our society forward together.

The disrespectful comments by Gregory Campbell do not represent the views of the wider Protestant, Unionist community and the appalling insults hurled by Gerry Adams do not represent the wider views of the Catholic, Nationalist community. Our communities as one are disgusted with the DUP/SF and their divisive point scoring agendas.

As they rip each other apart, we have people dying in their homes and in our hospitals, because we as a society do not have the same access to cancer drugs as the rest of the UK. Unlike the two parties (DUP/SF) cancer does not discriminate and this should be a priority for the Stormont administration. It is quite clear Sinn Fein and the DUP have no intention to put our people first and endeavour to simply hold us all back and starve our children from the futures they deserve.

The poisonous venom engraved into the stone hearts of the DUP/SF extremists can only be extracted by the electorate, our people, who can make the right decision in the next election and vote for the moderate parties. The SDLP alongside the UUP delivered us all the greatest gift of peace and the opportunity to build a united and shared future together; we must not allow SF and the DUP to drag us back!

Send a strong message to the Robinson and McGuinness Punch and Judy show – The SDLP, with its core values of a reconciled people living in a united, just and prosperous New Ireland delivered in the past and will deliver again!

Anne Marie Blee, Strabane

Byrne: Time to build the new A5 Bridge between Strabane and Lifford

Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, has called on Minister Danny Kennedy to show real commitment to the new A5 road’s project by proceeding with the building of the new bridge across the Finn at the Strabane/Lifford crossing. Joe Byrne made the call following a statement from Minister Kennedy on the recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council.

I believe strongly that the two governments must now show real intent towards the A5 project by building this bridge. It would be seen as a positive signal and would reassure the public at this time.

The time has come for DRD and the Department of Transport in the Republic to start construction on the bridge. This is a project which is badly needed for economic development in the North West.

NO MORE EXCUSES - WE WANT ACTION ON THE PEOPLES A5 - LEONARD

SDLP Sperrin Representative Patrick Leonard addressed the SDLP conference last week and demanded that his party make the A5 a priority at the Executive table. 

Conference reaffirms its support for the proposed A5 dual carriageway that will bring a much needed economic boost to employment black spots in the North West such as Strabane and Derry. The A5 will also vastly improve the safety for commuters and help lower the number of fatal collisions on our roads. Furthermore conference calls on all our elected representatives to actively seek assurances from the Executive of their commitment to the completion of this project.

Mr Leonard had this to say:

"I would like to reiterate the importance of the delivery of this infrastructure project to an area like Strabane and Omagh and indeed the entire Northwest.  It is noteworthy to point out that subsequent to the St Andrews agreement this major flagship peace dividend project was earmarked as a national primary route for joint Government support and action."

"The people of my Home town of Strabane and those from Donegal, Derry and the wider West Tyrone constituency considered this project as evidence of a firm commitment to peace and moving forward from our difficult and divisive past. It is therefore extremely disappointing that the Executive seems to have lost sight on previous commitment to what is an essential project and one which potentially could ignite a prosperity process to an abandoned Strabane people."

"Joe Byrne and our growing West Tyrone team are dedicated entirely to the delivery of the A5 transfer corridor, and the many benefits it will bring to the people of the Northwest. Not only will this project deliver major economic benefits and opportunities, it is also important in terms of safety. I know personally of many families who have sadly lost loved ones on this road over the years, such a difficult loss can never be measured, especially when it’s a mother and father losing a son or daughter.  Such tragic loss is devastating for any family to endure. I fully believe that the construction of the new A5 road would greatly improve safety for drivers and reduce the fatalities suffered on our roads."

"As a native of the Northwest speaking on behalf of the Strabane people, we are not prepared to suffer any further disappointment from Government, especially on this project which was promised on the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. I see this project as the greatest opportunity to bring the North West of Ireland to an equal footing in terms of economic investment, with the rest of the province. The people of Strabane are now of the firm belief that we and other towns in the North West have been discriminated against in terms of investment since partition, I say to conference, this MUST happen NO MORE end this trend of neglect."

"I urge our party to lobby the Executive to deliver this vital project, a project which is essential for the betterment of our lives, to save lives and to open the links across this island which in turn will help provide a brighter future for our children and grandchildren here at home."

"The one beacon of light in an ever darkening future must not be extinguished by the dark arts of Government."