Thursday, 15th May 2014

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Recent blog posts
(l-r) Larry Thompson (Bangor West), Kate Nicholl (Holywood and Clandeboye), Gavin Walker (Bangor East and Donaghadee), Andrew Muir ((Holywood and Clandeboye), Kellie Armstrong (Peninsula), Nico Fell (Bangor Central), Stuart Anderson, (Bangor Central), Linda Clelland (Ards Town), Scott Wilson (Bangor West), Deborah Girvan (Comber) and Alan McDowell (Ards Town). not in picture, Colin McCormick (Peninsula) The North Down and Ards Alliance Team of Candidates for Council elections on Thursday 22 May have entered the last week of their campaign in a bouyant mood. With positive responses on the doorstep to their commitment to a shared future for everybody in the new North Down & Ards District, the team is ready to get down to business. “Hard on the heels of an incredible year for Mayor Andrew Muir who has put into practice everything we stand for as a group, we’ve enjoyed some really great conversations on the doorsteps,” said Gavin Walker,...
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Alliance is stepping forward with a constructive, positive and achievable Ten Point Manifesto for Bangor Town Centre. The manifesto was developed as a coherent response to views received from residents, businesses and visitors alike with the goal of taking the town centre to 2020 and beyond. We believe that the creation of the new North Down and Ards District Council gives us the opportunity to deliver this ambitious plan of action for our Town Centre. Launched ahead of the local government elections on May 22, the manifesto was developed as a coherent response to views received from residents, businesses and visitors alike – with the goal of taking the town centre to 2020 and beyond.     Showcasing how the Party is stepping forward for everyone in the local community, the impressive strategy includes plans for a business improvement district, opening up use of the old Court House for community use, progressing the public realm initiative.    ...
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That will be a phrase that will have to be remembered over the next two years as the work to bring the public realm improvements to life in Bangor and Holywood exerts a squeeze on the town centres.You can rest assured that the contractors will be doing their best to keep disruption to a minimum but as anyone who has had to travel through either town centre - during morning or evening when the so called ‘rush’ hour takes place - will know, it takes very little to create large tailbacks and frustrated drivers.Two incidents in Bangor town centre recently showed just how a little can have a huge effect and how logjams in the town centre can generate significant ripples as far away as the ring road. The roadworks at Castle Street admittedly caught many people by surprise but it was striking just how long many motorists were trapped by...
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Asbestos occupies a peculiar place in the nation’s psyche. Simply mention the word and there will be gasps of horror and introduce it to the atmosphere in any way and reactions will be not short of panic.This is understandable given the horrors that have been inflicted on an unwitting population in the past; public memory of the experiences suffered by family members years ago still fresh as new generations learn of the mistakes of the past. Given that the real dangers that currently exist from asbestos are minimal since asbestos has by and large already been removed as new buildings have replaced old.That may mean that it is not factored into the thinking of those who plan the demolition of properties built years ago but it should be an automatic consideration when dealing with buildings of a certain age. And those who should know about these things would do better to...
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The eagle-eyed and truly cyberconnected among you will have noticed that we've been recently trialling a new polls and surveys app on our Facebook page over the last couple of weeks. What's the point? Well, here at 'Speccy HQ' we believe that the bigger point about all of our new digital gizmos is not so that we can say more to you our readers, but that we can provide new platforms for you guys to be able to express your opinions. One of our regular hot topics is of course the 'goings on' of the fine chaps & chapesses in North Down Borough Council. Councillors are those people we elect from time to time to make the important decisions on how the local towns should be run - as paid for by all our rates of course. Traditionally we elect these people and tend to just let them get on with...
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You'd be surprised what you can achieve by Stepping Forward and making your voice heard. This year you have two opportunities to Step Forward with Alliance: in the European and the Council Elections. They are both on May 22 - so Step Forward with me and together we can make great things happen....
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Gavin Standing
We've seen how the building of unnecessary new council buildings can become expensive White Elephants that we as ratepayers have to underwrite for many, many years. In Newtownabbey a £12million new Council building is unnecessary. And in Antrim the £7 million Council building is a financial burden for the people of the area. And already we have had many calls for a new Council buildings for the North Down & Ards Council even while we have two excellent facilities in Newtownards and Bangor. Over the coming months we'll hear lots of reasons why we need a brand new building. Some people have already suggested the mad idea of building it on Queen's Parade site. But I don't think we need one at all and I will fight against one being built to protect your rates with every opportunity I have. So here's my plan. Locate the main Council office in either of...
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The election of the new super Council in May give us a brilliant opportunity as a community to include young and old residents alongside business in the decision making processes across North Down and Ards in the future: Community Forums. If we can convince the new Council to listen to what organised groups of citizens have to say, and involve them in the decision-making processes of Council, then we really can work together to create a new shared society for all of us. And it's not only fairly easy to do, but is an imperative of the new Council to involve community groups. So, how do we do it? Well, business has already made a start by organising itself into a Business Forum for Bangor and Holywood with plans to invite participation from Newtownards and Donaghadee etcetera after the election. Older residents can use existing organisations like AGENI to begin to...
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  Road test: Suzuki Swift 4x4   SUZUKI’s Swift has proved to be a game changer for the Japanese manufacturer. The popular supermini has given the company a remarkable presence on our roads and it is not surprising given its obvious attributes. Top of those must be that it is fun to drive. Close to the original Mini concept of a wheel at each corner, it is compact, light and nippy to drive. It may only have a 1.2 litre petrol engine but it is a hardworking unit with power available throughout the range of the five forward gears. Well equipped and value for money, it ticks the boxes for both young drivers and those seeking practical motoring. And to top it all off there is the Sport version which gives the range a sex appeal with its aggressive looks, 1.6 litre engine and stylishly trendy interior.  And then there...
Tagged in: motoring
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It's something that we all love to moan about. Go into any social gathering and you are almost guaranteed that within ten minutes someone will be sounding off about how roadworks are created especially to torture them particularly.That will unleash the rest of the other horror stories about traffic delays and seemingly aimless detours.The fascination with all things traffic is not new of course. No doubt ever since the invention of the motor car there have been conversations and outpourings about the iniquities suffered by travellers on the roads.It is probably fair to say though that with more cars than ever on a road network that was created to serve the society of over 30 years ago there is bound to be added pressure on all aspects of transport - and not just drivers. Road junctions that were ideal for traffic volumes years ago cannot cope both with the additional vehicles...
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This week has seen much better news all round on the jobs front. A new dementia and care home to be built between Donaghadee and Millisle will lead eventually to at least the equivalent of 60 full-time jobs and there could well be further benefits for local suppliers leading to further job security and possibly even more posts created.That is particularly welcome for the Ards peninsula which has been bereft of significant numbers of job opportunities for some time. Meanwhile in Bangor, there is the opening of a local branch of a national DIY retailer. That is leading to a minimum of ten posts and, as important, is also a sign of confidence in the economic abilities of the area.Then yesterday came the news that unemployment in Northern Ireland had dropped for the eleventh month in a row with similar trends being reported for both Ards and North Down council areas....
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Ballyholme beach high tide .... ...
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Happy New Year everyone! Speccy hopes you and yours all had a great Christmas holiday and I’m sure you’re all girding your loins for the year ahead with excitement and enthusiasm – or not! So what will the year bring us? Probably very like what we had last year to be honest, nothing really changes very much… ;) Last year was the first for this new website and the Spectator’s new digital channels generally and it’s been an interesting learning curve for us all here at “Speccy HQ”. We learned for instance that the people of North Down just LOVE Facebook and so we’ve enjoyed getting to know you all a bit better by using our new page to get a bit of banter going. We say stuff and you tell us what you think – simple really! You told us all about your local heroes, villains, stuff that matters and...
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Cert U, 87 mins **** IF YOU are looking for a film for all the family to enjoy this festive season - look no further than Walking with Dinosaurs in 3D. In this 3D animation the popular BBC television series strides on to the silver screen with this live action/ CG animated feature film.Walking with Dinosaurs strikes just the right balance as you enjoy a prehistoric adventure whilst learning a host of educational dino-facts.Parents and children alike will enjoy this film’s great storyline as Patchi the underdog dinosaur triumphs against all the odds to become a hero for the ages. We follow our heroic dinosaur literally from his first days in the herd, through the many ups and downs of this sometimes harsh and unforgiving life, to his rise to herd leader and parent himself. Patchi’s journey will have you on the edge of your seat at times, close to tears at others, and...
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114mins, cert PG *** BEN Stiller directs and stars in James Thurber’s classic story of a daydreamer who escapes the mundanity of his everyday life by retreating into fantasies that re-cast him as the action hero of the hour.The last time The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was brought to the big screen it starred Danny Kaye in the title role, so there is certainly every justification for taking a fresh look at this old favourite.Stiller’s Walter Mitty is a greying (in every way)  picture editor for Life magazine who wishes he could be more like star photo-journalist Sean O’Connoll (Sean Penn) who leads a life of mystery and action in the remotest corners of the world.Perhaps then Walter wouldn’t feel so inadequate in his attempts to connect with colleague Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) who, like him, is facing redundancy from her job as Life magazine downsizes to an on-line only...
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PG-13, 161mins *** PETER Jackson’s adaptation of The Hobbit has not roused anywhere near the same level of anticipation amongst cinema goers as his much lauded Lord of the Rings trilogy.As a huge fan of the latter I have to admit to being disappointed in last year’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but I’m glad to say ‘The Desolation of Smaug’ comes closer to the pace and jaw-dropping effects of Lord of the Rings.The film picks up where its predecessor left off with Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins joining a hardy gang of dwarves as they attempt to free their mountain kingdom of Erebor from the fire-breathing dragon Smaug.They face a number of challenges along the way, not least of them a lair of monstrous spiders, and of course the obligatory ghastly Orcs who threaten to thrust Middle Earth into eternal darkness.They are begrudgingly helped by a band of suspicious Elves...
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Cert U, 108 minutes *****   WRAP up warm and enjoy Walt Disney Animation’s latest big screen musical adventure ‘Frozen’. The temperatures may be dropping outside but all the family will certainly be aglow with laughter thanks to this wintery fun-filled extravaganza. If you are looking for a festive treat - the impressive 3D version  of this enchanted tale is impressive throughout. Frozen’s storyline success relies on the themes of  sisterly love and selfless sacrifice and boasts two brave female lead characters - the royal sisters Elsa and Anna featuring the fabulous voices of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel. So forget waiting for your prince charming to come, these sisters are doing it for themselves as they battle the elements to save their family kingdom Arendelle. We join our fearless Anna, as she sets off on an epic snow journey with the rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven.Together the...
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Bangor boys tried to battled through but unfortunately were defeated  17-19.. learn from your mistakes, grow, and live to fight another day..... ...
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Bangor Grammar won their 10th game in a row against Royal School Dungannon 29-7 ...
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