Ash Welcomes Scrapping of Mobile Phone Roaming Charges

Speaking after the EU Commission announced its ambitious plans to scrap mobile phone roaming charges across Europe, SDLP Derg Candidate Marie Ash welcomed the measures as a particular benefit for her border constituency of Derg.

Marie said: "I am delighted the EU Commission has decided to move forward with plans to scrap mobile phone roaming charges across Europe. This will undoubtedly benefit many member states and, especially, here in the North of Ireland.

"The people of the Derg particularly will benefit from these changes being a border area as many people incur high roaming charges, even when they are still at home due to the closeness of County Donegal."

"For a number of years the SDLP has been calling for an all-island tariff to deal with the high costs our constituents are suffering in the North; either due to close proximity to the border or from travelling to southern counties at weekends."

"While I welcome the EU's move to bring forward these measures by 2016, I will be working closely with my SDLP colleagues in Stormont and Westminster, to ensure these measures are enacted here as soon as possible. In the interim, I will be calling on the Executive to work with our counterparts in the Republic to bring forward an all-island tariff to serve the people of Ireland in the immediate future."

LEONARD - FAMILY DISTRAUGHT AFTER CHILD FALLS ON USED SYRINGE

A family have been left distraught after their child came into contact with a syringe believed to have been used for injecting drugs.

As a result, Patrick Leonard, Strabane SDLP election candidate, has called on parents to advise their children to be “extra vigilant.”

The incident occurred last night between the grounds of Melmount Church and St Mary’s School.

Mr Leonard said: “While out canvassing I was approached about a situation earlier in which a young girl had fallen onto a used syringe.

“The family of this child are distraught over this and fear for the safety of other children.”

Mr Leonard concluded: “As a concerned parent myself, my thoughts are with the family and I ask that if you come across anything like this please be advised not to touch them and report it to the police.”

Byrne: SDLP pledge to work for tougher measures on animal cruelty

SDLP Agriculture Spokesman Joe Byrne has pledged to work for the highest standards possible to ensure the protection of animals from cruelty.

Speaking during a Stormont debate on animal cruelty this week, the vice chairperson of the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee said what was concerning was the apparent lack of prosecutions and few custodial sentences in relation to animal cruelty.

Mr Byrne said all allegations of abuse of animals “must be investigated fully, and those responsible must be held to account”. He called for tougher sentencing by the courts on those found guilty of animal cruelty.

Mr Byrne said: “The incidents of cruelty we have heard of over these past weeks and months are distressing, and it is timely these issues were raised in Stormont. Anton Mc Cabe, a local Omagh journalist who raised the issue of the horses that were being kept in the Clogher Mountain region is to be congratulated.

“Many organisations have to fundraise to help animals that are picked up in a distressed state. Grovehill Animal Trust is one such organisation that I have been in contact with, and which has set up a charity shop in Omagh to raise money to support their cause.

“The SDLP calls on the agencies involved to work more closely together to increase intelligence sharing which could, in turn, lead to more convictions.  We have a duty of care to the citizens and animals in this jurisdiction. We must use all the methods at our disposal to ensure that we provide the necessary level of protection that is needed by domestic and wild animals.”

New funding deal must ease Strabane housing crisis - Stewart

A record finance deal for 1,600 new social homes in Northern Ireland must help to alleviate Strabane's housing crisis, SDLP council candidate Liam Stewart has said.

Speaking after it was revealed a finance package worth £180 million is to kick start the construction of some 1,600 social housing units in Northern Ireland, Mr Stewart said it is vital Strabane gets its fair share. Clanmil Housing Association has secured loans of £75m from Danske Bank and £45million from Barclay, of which £100m will be spent on the construction of new homes for some 5,000 people across the North.

The funding will also allow Clanmil to unlock £80m in statutory funding from the Department for Social Development. Mr Stewart said: "This is the biggest deal of its kind in Northern Ireland and it can have positive ramifications for those caught up in the housing crisis that is affecting 600 people in our district and almost 1300 across the West Tyrone constituency.”

“I would now be hopeful that with the help of this finance deal that sites can be acquired across the Strabane district for the construction of homes for those most in need on Strabane's ever-expanding waiting list."

Mr Stewart said the depth of the crisis in social housing in Strabane is alarming. He said: "A very large percentage of people who call into our Strabane office have presented with issues relating to housing stress, waiting times and long delayed necessary repairs to properties.”

“It is my view that many local people at their wits end who have been continually let down by the system with some concerned if they'll ever be housed. The most recently produced statistics make for alarming reading - an increase of 37% on the Strabane waiting list in the last 5 years.”

"With more than 660 people now on Strabane's waiting lists, we can make no mistake we are in the midst of a housing crisis of startling proportions. This finance package can help can ease the crisis locally across the Strabane district, will create local jobs and alleviate the pressure on private rentals.” 

Leonard Welcomes Derelict Buildings Clean-up

This week Sperrin Area SDLP Candidate Patrick Leonard has welcomed the clean-up of a number of Strabane's most derelict buildings following a recent cash injection of £200,000 secured through the Department of Environment's Dereliction Programme.

Welcoming the clean-up Mr Leonard said "It is great to see some of the vacant buildings receive a fresh coat of paint and shop front improvements. Dereliction has been an issue that the SDLP in Strabane have been very active over in the last number of months."

"It has been important to address the issue of derelict and vacant properties in the Strabane area. Not only do derelict buildings look bad and make the town look uncared for, but it also has a negative effect on potential investors. Potential business owners want a clean, customer friendly area to start their business and are very much put off by the sight of derelict buildings."

"Hopefully with this clean-up, it will create an opportunity to attract local investment at a much needed time and also improve the character of the town. With more investment, this will lead to more jobs for Strabane and its residents."

Ash condemns use of 'Intimidating' posters

The use of intimidating posters in the Strabane and Castlederg Areas targeting the PSNI has been condemned by Derg Area SDLP Candidate Marie Ash, and has called on Strabane District Council and Councillors to take immediate action to have them removed.   

The posters have been erected in recent weeks targeting those who wish to provide the PSNI with information in relation to criminal acts.

Speaking on the matter Mrs Ash said "I believe it is time all local councillors in the Derg District, along with Strabane District Council, to represent their people and to do something about the removal of the inappropriate posters which have been erected in Castlederg, Aghyaran and the wider Strabane area."

"Having spoken to a number of local residents in these areas over the last few weeks and they are angered by seeing this type of intimidating material up in their community. One of these posters was on a building that had just been refurbished with the new dereliction fund. The paint had not even dried when one of these posters appeared!"   

"One local mother said while shopping in Castlederg last week she was questioned by her 8 year old what these posters meant, she told me she was very stuck for words on how to explain it. I, as a mother myself, believe it is totally unacceptable for our children to be exposed to this tactic of the past. The PSNI provide an invaluable service to our communities and keep us safe from crime. I am calling on Strabane District Council to show leadership and take action to have these posters removed."

Kelly condemns ‘reckless attack on Strabane community’

Strabane SDLP Councillor Patsy Kelly has condemned the actions of those responsible for a second viable device in Strabane as ‘reckless’.

Cllr Kelly was speaking after a viable pipe bomb was removed following a security alert at Townsend Street, discovered shortly after 1am this morning in an area known locally as the Back Row. Residents from 30 homes who were moved out of their homes during the alert have now returned.

Cllr Kelly said: “This is an extremely worrying development and, again, it’s the ordinary people of Strabane who are suffering; subjected to further disruption in the early hours of the morning.

“I condemn those who are behind this attack on the community as reckless. They must know they have no place in Strabane or, indeed, in any community.

“It is obvious, however, those intent on causing disruption in the community for a second day in a row have absolutely no regard or respect for the people of Strabane.”