Latest news with #ArdsandNorthDownBoroughCouncil
Belfast Telegraph
17-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Calls for thatch training after ‘tiger trap' health and safety risk spotted at NI folk park
One member of the public warned that the 'tiger trap' was spotted at eye height on a property that was first built in the 1850s in Coshkib, Cushendall before being dismantled and moved to the museum in 1965. They said the pegs 'could have taken someone's eye out'. 'It is unbelievable for a thatcher to leave a job that way so someone over 5ft 10 could lose an eye or worse;' they continued. The unimpressed visitor, who spotted the problem last October, informed National Museums NI (NMNI) of the hazards. But after not receiving an initial response they approached the Health and Safety Executive and Ards and North Down Borough Council with concerns. A spokesperson for NMNI, which cares for 24 thatched buildings across its two outdoor museums, insisted swift action was taken. 'In November 2024, following a complaint about exposed pegs on a thatched outbuilding at Coshkib Hill Farm, Ards and North Down Borough Council carried out an inspection,' they said. 'We acted promptly by closing the area in question, and bringing in a specialist contractor to resolve the issue.' But a trained master thatcher with over 30 years' experience in the trade believes more needs to be done to protect the craft in Northern Ireland. Mark Taggart is demanding that museums which don't properly reflect our thatched heritage be held accountable. Mr Taggart said the blame lies with the training provided to those tasked with carrying out specialist work as there is no set specification currently in place when working on thatched roofs. 'It's a real shame that museums like these — which are supposed to be preserving these trades and old traditional skills — are lacking,' he said. 'Of all the places to be correct, it is a shambles that the Ulster Folk Museum are not representing our heritage properly. 'They are not across the (specification) of the methods used as some are spotted as English methods using English tools, not like what way we would have built them here. 'The state of some of the roofs is appalling as well with huge dips in the thatch.' The 59-year-old craftsman said that an official depth specification for working with thatch — which all workmen need to abide by — is the only solution to 'combat cowboy thatchers'. 'This type of thatching really should be lasting longer, not just a couple of years, and the reason it doesn't is all down to who is carrying out the work,' he said. 'Where are they trained? Who is teaching our future thatchers? Who vets the trainers teaching the craft? 'They say the craft is under extreme risk, but it already is, and if nothing is done about it, it will die out. 'I personally believe that these training schools that are currently running and teaching people these skills are sewing the seeds of total destruction of the trade and something needs to be done about it.' A spokesperson for the Department for Communities confirmed that there is 'no dedicated thatch training school in Northern Ireland.' 'However, the department's Heritage Skills Centre at Moira runs heritage skills training and taster days in a range of areas such as thatching,' they added. CITB NI is the Industry Training Board and Sector Skills Council for Construction. A spokesperson for the body said that 'there is no British Standard governing the specification of work to thatched roofs'. 'Though there are common depths employed for thatch in England, this is not the case in Northern Ireland,' they said. 'The key issue, therefore, in respect of training, is that students are clear on the implications for weathering, loading and longevity of applying different depths of thatch to roofs and that owners are clear on what they are purchasing when work is proposed.' Earlier this month, CITB NI received £739,878 from the National Lottery Fund for their Future for Thatch project which aims to provide a training programme for a new generation of thatchers and support thatched building owners to care for their roofs. The spokesperson continued: 'Depth will form part of the case-by-case specifications for works undertaken as part of the Future for Thatch training programme.' In 2022, the Department for Communities published a report that recorded 186 thatched buildings in Northern Ireland. The survey recorded that 36 of these buildings had metal coverings and that 29 of these sites were in very poor condition.
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
NI rates: Councils raise district rates
All of Northern Ireland's councils have reported their district rate increases for the next City Council has the highest percentage uplift of 5.99%, while Ards and North Down and Causeway Coast and Glens came in the lowest at 3.65%.Each council sets an annual district rate for their area in Northern Ireland. It helps pay for public services and projects such as events, tourism, and waste management. The council fees come in the form of domestic and non-domestic rates, while there is a regional rate set by Stormont. Antrim and Newtownabbey Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has agreed a 4.96% increase to its district rate for equates to an increase of £3.03 per month for an average year, the council applied an increase of 4.97%.The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Neil Kelly, said: "The council is focused on the ongoing 'financial pressures' we are all facing, and we have worked tirelessly to maintain and deliver the most modest increase to the rates." Ards and North Down Ards and North Down Borough Council has agreed an increase of 3.65% to its district rate for amounts to an average increase of £1.75 each month for the average household and an average of £5 per Alistair Cathcart said: "Together, we are building a sustainable borough that we can all be proud of. There is much to be done and much to look forward to in the year ahead."I want to reassure our ratepayers that we will continue to scrutinise council spending. "We remain committed to making further efficiency savings wherever possible while maintaining and enhancing our services and continuing to invest in the borough," he added. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council has agreed to increase household rates by 3.91%.This amounts to an average increase of £1.81each month for the average a business in the borough with a net asset value of £50,000 the increase is approximately £49 per year, the council applied an increase of 5.17% to the district rates. Belfast City Belfast City Council has agreed to increase household rates by 5.99%.This amounts to an average increase of £2.76 each month for the average household, an average of £45.01 per for an office unit or £36.87 for a retail members also agreed this year's rate could be re-examined - up until the date by which the rates must be legally set (15 February 2025) - in the event of funds coming from the NI Executive to cover increases in National Insurance contributions. Causeway Coast and Glens Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has agreed an increase of 3.65% to its district rate for amounts to an average increase of £1.80 per month for the average household, or £8.98 per month for a business with a net average income of £10,000."Like all businesses and organisations, council faces significant financial pressures, including utility costs, increased insurance costs and high levels of inflation, all of which are putting a considerable strain on revenue," a spokesperson said. Last year, councillors agreed an increase of 6.86% for householders, following a 7.95% the previous year. Derry City and Strabane Derry City and Strabane District Council has agreed a 4.92% increase to its district will see an average rates bill increase by £2.41 per month. District rates will increase by 6.5% in Derry and Strabane District Council last year. A spokesperson said the rates will allow the council to continue to provide "critical frontline services to ratepayers with a clear focus and commitment to protecting jobs as well as the continued provision of funding to organisations who rely on Council support to deliver community services and projects". Fermanagh and Omagh Councillors in Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have agreed to a district rate increase of 3.76% for amounts to an average increase of £1.50 each month for the average household and an average of £4.00 per month for businesses. The council said it expects to generate about £45.4m of rates income to support the delivery of services across the district, including developing waste facilities and leisure centre upgrades. Last year, councillors voted for a 4.72% rise. Lisburn and Castlereagh Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council have agreed to increase the district rate, setting by 3.99%. For the average household, this equates to an additional £1.64 per year, the council agreed a 3.98% increase from last year's rates for the of Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Nicholas Trimble, said: "We recognise that real cost of living pressures continue to impact people's everyday lives and we have worked hard try to keep the rate increase as low as possible. "This small increase will allow us to continue to protect essential services and deliver key projects and initiatives that will shape the future of our area and benefit residents for years to come. Mid and East Antrim Mid and East Antrim Borough Council agreed a 3.99% increase for both domestic and non-domestic means the average household rates bill will increase by £3.92 per month and an average of £44 per week for businesses. Last year, average bills rose by £72.03 a year after a rates increase of 9.78% was agreed."After extensive discussions and a review of our budgetary needs, we have worked hard to keep the rate increase as low as possible in light of ongoing financial pressures for Council – including the Employer National Insurance contributions hike announced last year, the sharp decline in our Rates Support Grant by central government and ongoing rising operational costs," a council spokesperson said. Mid Ulster Mid Ulster District Council has agreed a 5.1% increase to its district rates for rise means the average household rates bill will increase by about £1.96 per year, Mid Ulster District Council has agreed to increase household rates by 5.9%, following on from a rise of 7.3% the previous year."The continuing difficult financial climate, unavoidable pressures including a rise in Employer National Insurance Contributions and National Pay Award increases, and significantly, a shortfall in central government funding received by the Council through the Rates Support Grant meant setting a realistic budget that minimised the impact on local people was extremely difficult," a spokesperson said."A proposed mix of savings, efficiencies, and increased income generation has been identified to offset the additional costs and minimise the impact on ratepayers." Newry, Mourne and Down A 3.98% increase in the district rates has been agreed by councillors in the Newry, Mourne and Down equates to an annual increase of £2.06 per month for the average is down from the increase of 5.99% agreed by the council last council's chairperson, Cllr Pete Byrne, said: "In the next financial year we will prioritise the delivery of our front line services, businesses and vulnerable people and strengthen relationships with local stakeholders and funders to work smarter and better for our residents. "To remain responsive to local needs, the Council will proceed to action its ambitious transformational agenda to improve its resilience, efficiency and delivery so that we can continue to get things done even in the most testing of times."
