ROE VALLEY NEWS

Every effort made to ensure accuracy but no responsibility accepted for incorrect details.

Unfortunately I have been unable to add recent news items due to time pressures.
(I have been working hard on my new site at www.gradu8.net)

May 17 2000

LANDMARK DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR SUPERMARKET

An old building at the corner of Main Street and Connell Street, part of the Tweedy Acheson complex, has been demolished to make way for Limavady's new Lidl supermarket. Further demolition work is to follow and in due course the locality will be transformed with a new 10,000 sq.ft. no-frills type supermarket employing between 15 to 20 people.

LIVES PUT AT RISK BY VANDALS
Sam McGregor, Chief Recreation Officer of Limavady Borough Council, has told a Leisure Services Committee meeting that during the recent hot spell, a time when beaches were at their most crowded, senseless vandals stole six lifebelts from Benone Beach. Damage was also done to the Roe Valley Leisure Centre necessitating temporary closure of the main pool.

December 16 1999

MARKET YARD - CONFLICTING PLANS
Farmers and traders in Limavady are holding their breath pending an imminent Borough Council decision on the future of the Market Yard in Limavady. Traders and farmers, together with the recently formed Roe Agricultural Marketing Society, have been lobbying for the retention of the yard, while others would prefer to sell the yard for development of a superstore which they see as injecting new life into the local economy.
Local farmers worry about having to travel some distance to markets further afield such as Lisahally, outside the Borough. They argue that better use could be made of the existing yard without selling it for retail development. However developers argue that the 5 acre development of a modern shopping centre with some residential development overlooking the river could create up to 250 jobs and help the existing traders in the town.

November 18 1999

HOPES RAISED FOR NEW FERRY
News is expected in the near future of the decision regarding the planning application for the operation of a car and passenger ferry service between Magilligan point and Greencastle, Co. Donegal.
Limavady Borough Council, Donegal County Council and the North West Region Cross Border Group are keen to see the ferry plan succeed. A link with Portstewart is also being considered. The Magilligan area is of considerable environmental importance but it is hoped that a ferry can be operated without environmental disruption. There could be considerable tourism advantages for both North Derry and Donegal.
November 11 1999

TWO BALLYKELLY BROTHERS ON MURDER CHARGE
There were disturbances outside Limavady Courthouse this week after two local men were charged with the murder of their teenage neighbour Jonathan Cairns on April 25. One man succeeded in breaking through the police cordon to attack one of the accused.
The accused men were remanded in custody to Londonderry Court on December 6. By the time the men were being led from the court a large crowd had gathered outside the courthouse and abuse was shouted as further scuffles occurred.
October 20 1999

VALE CENTRE OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Phase One of the Greysteel Community Enterprises Vale Centre recently opened. It comprises ten 1000 sq.ft. units which have been occupiedby a variety of new and expanding businesses ranging from the service sector to craft outlets. It is estimated that as many as 20 new jobs have been created in this first phase. The next phase sees the creation of outdoor playing fields.
LIMAVADY HOPES TO BENEFIT FROM DERRY JOBS BOOST
The announcement by BT that it is to create 650 jobs in a new call centre in Derry has raised employment hopes in neighbouring Limavady. Despite a significant improvement in recent years, Limavady Borough still has the third highest unemployment rate in Northern Ireland.
September 16 1999

NEW NURSERY SCHOOL PROPOSED
The year 2000 should see the construction of a long-awaited nursery school for Limavady. The Western Education and library Board have confirmed funding for the Ł250,000 project.
The school, a stand alone facility not connected to other local primary schools, is to be built at Scroggy Road, Limavady.

September 9 1999

NEW WIND FARM BOOST FOR LOCAL ECONOMY
B9 Energy Services Ltd. proposes to build Northern Ireland's largest wind farm, with 25 wind turbines, at Altahullion, North-east of Dungiven. Although when up and running only two additional jobs will exist, during the construction period it will provide substantial local employment.

The investment required is likely to be in the region of Ł15/20 million with sufficient renewable and pollution free electricity produced to meet the needs of up to 20,000 households.
September 2 1999

WOODLAND TRUST TO TAKE OVER GREYSTEEL GLEN
Limavady Borough Council has agreed to lease Greysteel Glen to the Woodland Trust. This is likely to mean the re-siting of the play area at the Glen in order that the entire area can be used for woodland purposes. In view of the present secluded area of the play area this is likely to be welcomed by local residents.
LIMAVADY SET TO GET RECORDING STUDIO
The Musicians Collective, based in the Gate Lodge of the Roe Valley Hospital, have announced plans for the building of a recording studio and the provision of facilities for rehearsal and recording demos. The Collective also plans to provide training in all aspects of sound recording and the music industry.
ROE VALLEY LEISURE CENTRE ANNOUNCES AUTUMN PROGRAMME
There will be several new activities this Autumn at the newly refurbished Roe Valley Leisure Centre. A revolutionary new form of exercise known as "Cycrobics" will form part of the new programme. This is a new form of cardiovascular training using a state of the art studio exercise bike.
Jumbo swim sessions lasting 1 hour and 25 minutes are also being introduced at certain times.
August 22 1999

TOUR OF THE NORTH CYCLE RACE TO RETURN TO LIMAVADY
The Northern Ireland Cycling Federation have confirmed that they were very impressed with this year's Limavady stage of the Tour of the North Cycle race and will be including a Limavady stage in their Millenium Race.
PAPER BOYS ROBBED
Two paper boys, aged 12 and 13, were robbed last Friday by two masked men. The incident happened as they were cycling hrough "Rathbeg Extension" playing fields shortly after 7 p.m. after finishing their rounds.
LIMAVADY GRAMMAR SCHOOL STUDENT EXCELS IN MATHS
Seventeen year old David Bartlett, a lower sixth student at Limavady Grammar School, has finished in the top five in the United Kingdom in Mathematics A-Level even though he completed the course in only one year.

August 15 1999

LIMAVADY BOROUGH COUNCIL BACKS GAS GENERATING PLANT BID
Limavady Borough Council have endorsed the efforts of Coolkeeragh Power Station to establish a gas generating plant in the North West. Such a plant should reduce the generating cost of electricity and secure the future of Coolkeeragh as a gas fired station. The power stations in the east of the Province are already linked to a gas network.
TRAFFIC WARDENS FOR LIMAVADY?
Councillor Dessie Lowry has recommended the introduction of traffic wardens in Limavady for a trial period to assist traffic management. He recommended a one or two hour parking restriction on Main Street and other town centre locations. This would prevent people from parking all day in prime shopping locations which would then be available for those with limited time for shopping or visiting dentists, solicitors, accountants, hairdressers, etc.