Latest news with #CarlWhyte
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Council confirm Belfast Zoo closed due to E-coli detected in water sample
Earlier today, the zoo announced it would be temporarily closed on Tuesday due to an 'urgent maintenance issue'. In an update, a Belfast City Council spokesperson said: 'Following a routine inspection, a small amount of E-coli has been detected in a water sample taken from the Belfast Zoo site,' they told Belfast Telegraph. 'The Zoo has been closed to visitors today as a precautionary measure while we work with the NI Environment Agency and the council's own environmental health team to carry out additional sampling. 'The safety of our visitors and animals remains our top priority, and we hope to reopen the Zoo for visiting as soon as possible. The Zoo's dedicated team remain on site today and are continuing to care for the animals. 'Further updates on reopening will be provided via the Zoo's website and social media channels (@belfastzoo on Facebook and Instagram). 'We are sorry for any disappointment to those with pre-booked tickets for Belfast Zoo today, including school groups. Ticketholders can contact the Zoo on 028 9077 6277 for a full refund.' It follows reports that the 90-year-old zoo lost about £1.9m in the last year and an additional £2m being earmarked for safety works over the next four years. News Catch Up - Tuesday 10th June Sinn Fein councillor Ronan McLaughlin said 'something needs to be done' to turn things around. 'We are now in a non-sustainable position and I believe there is now the political consensus to try to bring some investment to the zoo,' he told this newspaper last week. 'We need to bring the zoo to a sustainable model that doesn't lose the council any money.' Meanwhile SDLP councillor Carl Whyte pointed out that, although it is operating at a loss, the zoo generates around £2m a year, and what needs to be examined are its running costs.
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘We have unfortunately seen racists and the right-wing become emboldened': Belfast councillor hits out at ‘disgusting' graffiti
The graffiti – which contained the menacing message 'Muslims out' accompanied by the depiction of the cross hairs of a firearm – appeared in the Ballyroney Hill area near the Whitewell Road. It has since been removed after it was reported to the council by local representative Carl Whyte. In a statement, the SDLP councillor said: 'The appearance of this racist graffiti is disgusting and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. "The people behind this do not speak for residents in this area, it is an increasingly multicultural place where people of all backgrounds happily live and work alongside each other and the actions of this tiny minority cannot be allowed to overshadow that." News Catch Up - Monday 19 May Mr Whyte said it is important that those responsible for such incidents are called out. "We have unfortunately seen racists and the right-wing become emboldened recently to the point they think they can get away with doing something like this,' he added. 'This creates fear among minority groups and we need to express our solidarity and let them know we have their backs. 'I commend council's quick response in removing this graffiti and while I hope it was not widely seen it has still caused hurt in our Muslim community. I would urge anyone with any information about this to come forward to police and for those behind it to cease this attempt to spread hate in our community.'
