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07/10/2022
Other News In Brief
UU To Invest £10m In New Jordanstown Sports Village
Ulster University has announced an investment of £10m in the Jordanstown Sports Village, a state-of-the-art, multi-sport facility for students, staff and the local community.
Subject to planning approval, the new indoor facility will include the creation of a two-storey extension to the existing high-performance Sports Centre to include: a gym, fitness suites, physio room, student sports clubhouse, teaching and event space, extended reception area, changing rooms, equipment stores and ancillary multipurpose rooms. The expanded indoor facilities will support the expansive outdoor pitch provision in Jordanstown to support the training needs of students, performance athletes and sports clubs.
Professor Paul Bartholomew, Ulster University Vice-Chancellor commented: "Ulster University Jordanstown has a hard-earned reputation for being an all-encompassing hub for performance sport in Northern Ireland. It has played a supporting role in the sporting lives of Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, local sports clubs, schools and teams competing at an international level and harboured a fitness network for staff, students and the local community.
"The plans launched today combine innovative technology with world class facilities to support our students, athletes, coaches, governing bodies, alumni and the local community to reach their sporting potential. From research backed sports education, elite performance support and host of local, national and international sports competitions, the improved Jordanstown Sports Village will become the cornerstone for involved, engaged and supported sports people."
DUP Challenge Varadkar On 'Hard Border' Comments
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has challenged Tánaiste Leo Varadkar after he said "there is no hard border between north and south".
Mr Campbell said: "He should apologise for distributing news stories from the (sic) 30 years ago and ever suggesting there would be soldiers on border checkpoints. No one was ever suggesting that. Even if someone wanted to build a 'hard' border it would be physically impossible but of course the border which does exist between Northern Ireland and the Republic is one that does not disadvantage people here.
"The Republic has a different corporation tax rate, a different fuel duty rate, a different income tax rate, a different education system and a different currency. Those living in RoI pay for their medical treatment whereas in Northern Ireland we have a National Health Service which is free at the point of need."
Noting the change in language Mr Campbell said: "Two years ago Dublin was saying we needed the Protocol 'rigorously implemented' and there could be no changes, it is a pity they hadn't recognised the concerns of unionists two years and more progress could have been made back then, we need to see action not just warm words."
StreetDock Launches First 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use'
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black has joined Translink and Streetdock to announce the first 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use', which is set to deliver a step change in how deliveries are made across Belfast.
The first business to take advantage of the 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use' opportunities is Streetdock, an innovative, zero emissions, 'last mile delivery service' run by local entrepreneurs Ian Richardson and David Kane, supported by Belfast City Council. Streetdock will use the space on St Andrew's Square, just off Hope Street, in central Belfast for their company's second micro-hub, facilitating city centre deliveries being made by e-cargo bikes rather than traditional vehicles.
Translink welcomes this environmentally friendly business as their first meanwhile use on the Weavers Cross site,
Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said: "We welcome Streetdock on board as our first meanwhile use as part of the Belfast Grand Central Station and Weavers Cross project, our transport led regeneration scheme.
"Streetdock has the potential to deliver real advantages in Belfast's aim to become a cleaner, greener city and their ambition mirrors that of Translink.
"Translink is committed to helping Northern Ireland deliver on its climate and carbon commitments by ensuring that our whole network is Net Zero by 2040 and achieving Climate Positive status by 2050. We are delighted to have been benchmarked as Platinum status in the Business in the Community Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking survey, and we will continue to benchmark Translink with the top-rated organisations in carbon emission reductions."
Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tina Black said: "It's so encouraging to see StreetDock expand their electric bike delivery service in this way after our initial support for their pilot project through the Department for Infrastructure's Sustainable and Active Travel elements of the Department for Communities' Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme Fund.
"StreetDock's innovative service will make an important contribution to realising our Bolder Vision for a reimagined city centre - creating more vibrant, more connected and more accessible places that appeal to a wide range of people.
"I look forward to seeing many more businesses and organisations following StreetDock's lead in helping to reduce car dominance, so that we can prioritise routes for walking, wheeling and cycling through the city centre, ease congestion and reduce air pollution."
Ian Richardson, Co-Founder of Streetdock said: "We are delighted to be working with Translink; being the first Weavers Cross meanwhile use business has given us the opportunity to open our first city centre micro-hub here at St Andrew's Square. Streetdock is a smart network of cargo storage points and Zero Emission delivery bikes, and can help to transform city centres by removing virtually all courier vans from the streets, contributing significantly to improved air quality, reduced congestion and lower carbon emissions, an ambition shared by Translink.
''We see Streetdock as a catalyst for how we change deliveries to city centre locations in terms of cost, efficiency, and impact on the environment. The last mile of a parcel's journey accounts for 53%* of its cost due to the inefficiency of huge vans dropping only one or two parcels per stop. We reduced that cost by half and at the same time cut carbon emissions and harmful exhaust gas pollution to zero.
"Our service will help meet Belfast's target of becoming a cleaner, greener city, as well as assisting in relieving congestion on inner city roads."
Streetdock's expansion into the city centre hub will see an increase in opportunities with the company including potential employment and a number of engagement events with local communities and stakeholders.
Ulster University has announced an investment of £10m in the Jordanstown Sports Village, a state-of-the-art, multi-sport facility for students, staff and the local community.
Subject to planning approval, the new indoor facility will include the creation of a two-storey extension to the existing high-performance Sports Centre to include: a gym, fitness suites, physio room, student sports clubhouse, teaching and event space, extended reception area, changing rooms, equipment stores and ancillary multipurpose rooms. The expanded indoor facilities will support the expansive outdoor pitch provision in Jordanstown to support the training needs of students, performance athletes and sports clubs.
Professor Paul Bartholomew, Ulster University Vice-Chancellor commented: "Ulster University Jordanstown has a hard-earned reputation for being an all-encompassing hub for performance sport in Northern Ireland. It has played a supporting role in the sporting lives of Olympic and Commonwealth athletes, local sports clubs, schools and teams competing at an international level and harboured a fitness network for staff, students and the local community.
"The plans launched today combine innovative technology with world class facilities to support our students, athletes, coaches, governing bodies, alumni and the local community to reach their sporting potential. From research backed sports education, elite performance support and host of local, national and international sports competitions, the improved Jordanstown Sports Village will become the cornerstone for involved, engaged and supported sports people."
DUP Challenge Varadkar On 'Hard Border' Comments
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell has challenged Tánaiste Leo Varadkar after he said "there is no hard border between north and south".
Mr Campbell said: "He should apologise for distributing news stories from the (sic) 30 years ago and ever suggesting there would be soldiers on border checkpoints. No one was ever suggesting that. Even if someone wanted to build a 'hard' border it would be physically impossible but of course the border which does exist between Northern Ireland and the Republic is one that does not disadvantage people here.
"The Republic has a different corporation tax rate, a different fuel duty rate, a different income tax rate, a different education system and a different currency. Those living in RoI pay for their medical treatment whereas in Northern Ireland we have a National Health Service which is free at the point of need."
Noting the change in language Mr Campbell said: "Two years ago Dublin was saying we needed the Protocol 'rigorously implemented' and there could be no changes, it is a pity they hadn't recognised the concerns of unionists two years and more progress could have been made back then, we need to see action not just warm words."
StreetDock Launches First 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use'
Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black has joined Translink and Streetdock to announce the first 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use', which is set to deliver a step change in how deliveries are made across Belfast.
The first business to take advantage of the 'Weavers Cross Meanwhile Use' opportunities is Streetdock, an innovative, zero emissions, 'last mile delivery service' run by local entrepreneurs Ian Richardson and David Kane, supported by Belfast City Council. Streetdock will use the space on St Andrew's Square, just off Hope Street, in central Belfast for their company's second micro-hub, facilitating city centre deliveries being made by e-cargo bikes rather than traditional vehicles.
Translink welcomes this environmentally friendly business as their first meanwhile use on the Weavers Cross site,
Chris Conway, Translink Group Chief Executive, said: "We welcome Streetdock on board as our first meanwhile use as part of the Belfast Grand Central Station and Weavers Cross project, our transport led regeneration scheme.
"Streetdock has the potential to deliver real advantages in Belfast's aim to become a cleaner, greener city and their ambition mirrors that of Translink.
"Translink is committed to helping Northern Ireland deliver on its climate and carbon commitments by ensuring that our whole network is Net Zero by 2040 and achieving Climate Positive status by 2050. We are delighted to have been benchmarked as Platinum status in the Business in the Community Northern Ireland Environmental Benchmarking survey, and we will continue to benchmark Translink with the top-rated organisations in carbon emission reductions."
Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tina Black said: "It's so encouraging to see StreetDock expand their electric bike delivery service in this way after our initial support for their pilot project through the Department for Infrastructure's Sustainable and Active Travel elements of the Department for Communities' Covid-19 Revitalisation Programme Fund.
"StreetDock's innovative service will make an important contribution to realising our Bolder Vision for a reimagined city centre - creating more vibrant, more connected and more accessible places that appeal to a wide range of people.
"I look forward to seeing many more businesses and organisations following StreetDock's lead in helping to reduce car dominance, so that we can prioritise routes for walking, wheeling and cycling through the city centre, ease congestion and reduce air pollution."
Ian Richardson, Co-Founder of Streetdock said: "We are delighted to be working with Translink; being the first Weavers Cross meanwhile use business has given us the opportunity to open our first city centre micro-hub here at St Andrew's Square. Streetdock is a smart network of cargo storage points and Zero Emission delivery bikes, and can help to transform city centres by removing virtually all courier vans from the streets, contributing significantly to improved air quality, reduced congestion and lower carbon emissions, an ambition shared by Translink.
''We see Streetdock as a catalyst for how we change deliveries to city centre locations in terms of cost, efficiency, and impact on the environment. The last mile of a parcel's journey accounts for 53%* of its cost due to the inefficiency of huge vans dropping only one or two parcels per stop. We reduced that cost by half and at the same time cut carbon emissions and harmful exhaust gas pollution to zero.
"Our service will help meet Belfast's target of becoming a cleaner, greener city, as well as assisting in relieving congestion on inner city roads."
Streetdock's expansion into the city centre hub will see an increase in opportunities with the company including potential employment and a number of engagement events with local communities and stakeholders.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
