SDLP welcome work beginning on Strabane’s new Recycling Centre

This week the SDLP in Strabane has welcomed the work beginning on the new Recycling Centre on the Strahans Road in Strabane.

Strabane SDLP Councillor Patsy Kelly said “I am very pleased to see work begin on the new recycling centre on the Strahans Road site. The environment is an issue that affects everyone no matter what political party they support. Everyone has a responsibility to do as much as they can to protect the environment for future generations to enjoy. I believe this new Recycling Centre will benefit the whole district and the people of Strabane.”

“It is obvious that using landfills can no longer be sustained as an option to deal with our waste. The new Recycling Centre will help to limit the amount of glass, paper and plastic that must be produced to maintain our needs. This in turn will lead to less waste being sent to landfill sites.”

The whole process of recycling is to help maintain the natural beauty of our area for our children and their children. For example as the demand for paper increases, a number of trees are being cut to produce it. By recycling paper, we can prevent the destruction of forests. We can save our natural resources by recycling products made from raw materials. Recycling a ton of mixed paper or newspaper is equivalent to saving 12 trees.”

“Most importantly I believe the new Recycling Centre will help make people aware of the little things they can do that make a huge difference in terms of recycling. If we all do our part, we can really help make Strabane a standout example of an environmentally friendly town.”

BYRNE: BANKS SYSTEMATICALLY DESERTING RURAL COMMUNITIES

SDLP MLA for West Tyrone Joe Byrne had had a meeting with a number of banks regarding the closure of rural bank branches and their impact on the farming community.

The austerity measures pursued by banks in the light of the current recession are causing great concern to many rural communities, particularly in places like West Tyrone. The recent announcement by the Ulster Bank about bank branch closures across the Island and the loss of 1800 banking jobs is a sad reminder of an austerity agenda by banking management, poignantly leaving many rural villages and small towns without a local bank branch.

Over the last two years, West Tyrone has suffered the loss of 6 bank branches in numerous smaller towns. Danske Bank has closed 4 branches in West Tyrone, namely Beragh, Fintona, Castlederg and Newtownstewart. The Ulster Bank and the First Trust Bank have closed their branches in Dromore now leaving the town without any bank. Last week, the Agriculture committee at the Assembly met and received presentations from the Ulster Bank, Danske Bank and the Bank of Ireland relating to how they are serving the banking needs of farmers across Northern Ireland. All three banks stated that they are committed to sustaining and developing the Agri-Food banking service to the farming community across the rural parts of Northern Ireland.

 Mr Byrne said:

"I questioned officials from all three banks about the severe impact the closure of rural bank branches will have to the farming community in particular. I told officials from the Danske Bank that the farming community of West Tyrone feels very aggrieved that all customers and in particular farming customers must use either Omagh or Strabane main street banks which, in addition, have no parking facilities. The rural farming community in Beragh, Fintona, Castlederg and Newtownstewart feel they have been short changed and treated badly by the banks"

"The fear now regarding the Ulster Bank is that West Tyrone could still suffer further bank branch closures; this would be devastating for the farming customers in particular. The banks that have squandered a lot of money on big loans to the property development sector during the economic boom are now on a deficit-driven campaign to improve their financial profitability. Resultantly rural, farming driven communities are losing financial services that are key to their viability both now and in the long term"

ENDS

Byrne welcomes Money for Agri-Food Loan Scheme

Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, yesterday welcomed the £10 million Financial Transactions fund to the agri-food loan Scheme. This fund was announced by the Minister for Finance and Personnel Sammy Wilson in his Monitoring Round Statement for 2013-2014.

Tue 2nd July

However Mr Byrne questioned the Minister on whether the amount would be enough for the agri-food loan scheme and whether the banks were willing to back those who want to invest in capital buildings particularly for poultry and the pig meat sector.

Mr Byrne said:

“I welcome the fact that the Minister stated that this was an initial allocation and that this figure will be revisited once the scheme is progressing. This is one area that Northern Ireland can be competitive in and the opportunity to create jobs in this industry should not be missed due to lack of funding.

“As Vice Chair and member of the Agricultural Committee at the Assembly we met with some of the major banks and they were not forthcoming with regard to their lending policy. Therefore I also welcome the fact that Ministers Wilson and Foster along with agri-food representatives have met with the major banks to discuss bank lending to such schemes and loan security and that they were positive.

“We believe that we have given them the ability to give loans to farmers who want, for example, to put up chicken or pig houses or whatever. We are taking some of the risk; up to 40% of the loan for any chicken house will be made available through the loan scheme that we set up, and we will have the last call on it. So, the banks' risk is reduced there.

“For the agri-food industry, the banks will be vetting farmers who are going to be suppliers. Therefore, they will know that they are capable of doing the job and maybe even have a track record. Of course, the agri-food industry will bear some of the on-going cost, because it supplies the grain, etc. If a business fails, because you need to have the supply of chickens, there is always the possibility of taking over and running the thing themselves.

“The banks are actually getting quite a good deal out of this. If they were to baulk at this, I think we would then be able to say that, despite all the rhetoric about lending, we do not see that reality on the ground. I do not want to be critical because I want to get them on board with the scheme. They were more than happy to come to a meeting. They said that they would go away and work at this themselves and come back to us. I am hoping that, in the very near future, we will have some positive results from that.”

SDLP raise concerns over toxic plant

This week the SDLP in Strabane have raised concerns over the presence of Giant Hogweed along public walkways and riverbanks.

Following on SDLP Representative Liam Stewart said “This issue was brought to our attention when a number of Strabane locals approached our office with concerns of their own. They made us aware that while out walking they had come across Giant Hogweed in a number of areas, most frequent of these was along the riverbank, and were concerned due to the toxic nature of this plant.”

“Following an investigation it was discovered Giant Hogweed is what’s known as a phototoxic plant. Its sap can cause severe skin inflammations when the skin is exposed to sunlight or to ultraviolet rays. Initially, the skin colours red and starts itching. Then blisters form as it burns within 48 hours. They form black or purplish scars that can last several years. Hospitalisation may be necessary. Presence of minute amounts of sap in the eyes can lead to temporary or even permanent blindness.”

SDLP Councillor Patsy Kelly continued saying “We in the SDLP felt that, in the interests of health and safety, that the relevant authorities take urgent action to get these plants removed. Many people in Strabane take advantage of the natural beauty along our public walkways, and we believe that this should not be spoiled by the presence of a toxic plant. We have reported this to Strabane District Council and would urge haste in removing this danger.”

"We are happy to confirm that following representation the Giant Hogweed is now a priority for Strabane District Council, and will be dealt with as soon as possible."

BYRNE PRESENTS PETITION TO ASSEMBLY ON RURAL SCHOOLS

On Monday of this week Joe Byrne, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone, presented a petition to the Assembly on behalf of rural schools in the Castlederg/ Newtownstewart areas. The three schools involved are Envagh Primary School, Dregish, Model Primary School,Newtownstewart and St Francis of Assisi Primary School, Drumnabay.

Speaking in the Assembly, while handing in the petition, Mr Byrne said that:

“Uncertainty hanging over these schools needs to be clarified so that parents and staff are assured of the department’s position. The 105 criteria of pupil numbers has left many parents in a dilemma not knowing what the future holds for their local school. The 105 pupil numbers requirement is forcing some parents in rural areas to consider sending their children to a bigger school which they think might have a sustainable future.”

“The Campaign Group for these rural schools are concerned about the Draft WELB Strategic Area Plan proposals for the Western Board Area and the effect these proposals will have on all of the rural schools and the communities that they support. They believe that rural schools are the focus of their communities and that any proposals that would involve any change need to be thoroughly investigated before any action is taken.”

“As an MLA for West Tyrone’ I have attended a number of public meetings about this schools issue in Omagh and Strabane districts. Many local rural communities that have a small rural school are deeply concerned and fearful about the future of their small rural primary school. The reality is that the local primary school is at the heart of the community, and indeed could be described as the ‘heartbeat of the community’.  John O Dowd, the Education Minister, must be more definite and clear-cut in having a small schools policy which reflects rural proofing as outlined in the DARD White Paper on rural communities”.

‘Finally, it is crucial that the CCMS, the WELB and the Department of Education work closely to protect our rural primary schools and ensure the viability of rural communities into the future.”