Lisburn News Page 5
Lisburn News
Fine for skip hire 2014 Lisburn Visitor Guide Launched company owner
A Lisburn skip hire company owner has been made the subject of a £166,000 confiscation order at Belfast Crown Court.
Mr Sean McStravick (60) of Rusheyhill Road Lisburn, the Director of Colinglen Contractors Limited, operating at Colinglen Road, Dunmurry, had previously been convicted for a number of waste offences in November 2012 and sentenced in February 2013. The Confiscation Order was taken by the Northern Ireland
Environment Agency (NIEA) under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. The offences related to the unauthorised storage and treatment of household and commercial waste at a Unit in Kilwee industrial Estate, Belfast, between March and September 2009 and at Colinglen Road, Belfast between December 2010 and September 2011. At the same Court Mr McStravick’s Company, Colinglen Contractors Limited, was also fined a total of £8,000 under Article 4 of the Waste & Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 for the same offences.
Lisburn Parking System – Five Years On
By Samantha Gregory
It has been over five years since the parking system complete with parking meters and traffic wardens came to Lisburn. There have been problems from the outset with many residents complaining that there is no leeway with traffic wardens and they feel they have to rush back to their cars. It was originally introduced in a bid to do the following: Increase efficiency and effectiveness of the existing onstreet parking spaces in the main shopping areas; Reduce congestion; Provide better opportunities for delivery vehicles to find a space that is convenient to the store they are delivering to; Short stays by vehicles which means more spaces available; What it created was a system that has ultimately put off a great many people from shopping in Lisburn at all, while the rest must constantly watch the clock so they don’t get ticketed. Shaun Fitzsimmons said, “They’re a joke. You always have to rush back to your car and you have no time to shop. If you are even two minutes late, a traffic warden is there with a ticket.” Many people are put off by this and are leaving their car at home,
which has been praised as being good for the environment. However it is not so easy for some people, Anne, a local hairdresser, said, “I have no choice when it comes to bringing my car as I live in Banbridge. I used to park outside when I went into work but now you are only allowed to park up to an hour. Now I park wherever I can find a space.”
On hand at World Travel Market to launch the 2014 Lisburn Visitor Guide are from left, Joe Hughes, Visit Belfast, Judith Cassidy, Tourism Ireland, Vice-Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development Committee, Alderman Jim Dillon, Lisburn City Council, Sara Graham, Visit Belfast, and Councillor Roy Young, Lisburn City
Lisburn City Council recently attended the World Travel Market in London to launch Businesses are also being affected its 2014 Lisburn Visitor Guide in Railway Street, Castle Street, and Visitor Map.
Bridge Street and Market Square. World Travel Market is the largest A local resident said, business to business travel expo in Europe with Lisburn participating “The new system has affected the through its membership of Visit Belfast customers the most. Paying for car – the Greater Belfast Regional Tourism parking is just another form of tax Partnership. At this show, regions are represented from around the globe all as far as I am concerned. They are effectively closing off with the opportunity to do business and explore new markets. the city centre to drivers.” The traffic wardens seem to be a major cause for concern with On hand to launch the new Visitor Guide in London was Vice Chairman of most people as they seem to be the Council’s Economic Development issuing tickets over the slightest Committee, Alderman Jim Dillon, and infraction. Economic Development Committee Glenn Donan said, “The traffic member, Councillor Roy Young. wardens have no respect. They are Alderman Jim Dillon said: “It gives intimidating people. All they have me great pleasure to officially launch to do is stand at the end of the the 2014 Lisburn Visitor Guide and street and drivers who are about to Visitor Map. Tourism continues to bring substantial economic benefits to the City stop will drive away.” of Lisburn by way of increased bednights, trips and tourism revenue.” If the Council has noticed any loss in revenue for local businesses “With an extensive portfolio of events, then they have themselves to increased interest in the array of blame. They need to address the attractions and growing accommodation main problems at hand and take a stock levels, Lisburn now has lots to shout about. What better place to launch public vote on the matter. Most people resent having to pay the new Visitor Guide then World Travel to park for a few minutes and Market, London where so many new would like a system similar to opportunities exist. Evidence on the interest shown in Northern Ireland is on other towns where drivers are able a wave and it is great to see the efforts to park their car for up to half an from our colleagues in Visit Belfast.” hour without paying. Drop into you local Tourist Information Centre at Lisburn Square or Hillsborough Less and less drivers are coming Courthouse to pick up your copy of the into town unless it is a necessity 2014 Lisburn Visitor Guide or take a and if something is not done soon, look at www.visitlisburn.com for more then Lisburn could end up a ghost information on things to do and see around Lisburn. town.