Lagan Valley election candidate speak out on local senior citizens endangerment

UUP election candidate for Lagan Valley Basil McCrea MLA spoke out against the Roads Service Eastern division this week due to their lack of provision of a safe crossing for older residents living on Moss Road.

Moss Road, one of the busier areas within Lisburn, has vital local services for it’s less mobile residents such as the post office, pharmacy and large Mace convenience store. However elderly residents who have trouble with their movement find it difficult to cross the road to access these crucial facilities.

“The residents of Moss road have complained on several occasions to the Roads Service’s Eastern Division that they have felt unable to cross the roads safely but all requests for a resolution have seemingly fallen on deaf ears” stated Basil McCrea.

“I have spoken to the Roads service and they have told me that following these complaints they have previously surveyed the road and assessed that it does not require a crossing, and that was not likely to change.”

“This is unacceptable as a large number of residents who desperately require these local services feel they are unable to access them with the frequency they require and something must be done to assist those more vulnerable in our community.”

“I have insisted that Roads Service carry out another survey, bearing in mind the input of the local residents and make their assessment showing due consideration to the residents difficulties as well.”

Lagan Vallery Election candidate speak out on neglect of new residents

Today UUP election candidate for Lagan Valley Basil McCrea spoke out regarding the Roads Service neglect of new Lisburn residents in the Mornington estate.

“This new development is important to the overall economic growth of Lisburn, and it is a pleasure to be able to welcome many new couples and families into the area.”

“However as always with new developments, there have been changes and increases to traffic, and it has been problematic for those living in Mornington to enter and exit the estate due to the high volume of vehicles passing through Ballinderry Road.”

“This has caused the residents serious issues exiting the development and has on more than one occasion caused serious ‘near-misses’. A simple set of traffic lights would calm the traffic sufficiently to allow departure from the estate much more readily, and safely.”

“I have been in contact with the Roads Service and they have told me that due to there having been no history of collision on the road, there is no need for traffic lights or any other traffic calming measures. Yet this assessment does not take into account the recent changes brought about by this new development.”

“Does there have to be a collision before the Roads Service will actually take action? The Roads Service Eastern Division claims that without this ‘collision history’ there is no need to take action, but this neglect of change in Lisburn is not supporting the city’s evolving needs, which are crucial to adhere to now more than ever to continue to encourage our growth.”

“I will be continuing to challenge the Roads Service’s decision on this matter, so that all residents of Lisburn either well-established or just moving into our area are well provided for with safe roads.

Election candidate, Basil McCrea MLA and NI businessman Trevor Leckey meet some of the robotic technology in the ISRC of the UU’s Magee Campus

Basil McCrea MLA visited the Intelligent Systems Research Centre at the University of Ulster Magee campus this month alongside 2003 British Quad Super Moto racing Champion and Managing Director of Stoneyford Concrete, Trevor Lecky.

Mr McCrea said he was impressed with the work being done:  “The technological advances being made here are very exciting, and the researchers are extremely ambitious in their plans to push this type of technology forward.”

“As an internationally recognised center for research and development the Intelligent Systems Research Centre has the potential to benefit Northern Ireland, and the rest of the world.”

“They are making excellent advances in the medical field, specifically into brain research.  The ISRC has been researching neurological activity which could lead into treatment for people with all sorts of illnesses, for example people who have suffered strokes, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.”

Mr Lecky who has had a lucrative racing career, has raced all across Europe and finished within the top three in the British and Irish Quad racing Championships from ’03 – ’05. Regrettably he has been wheelchair bound since a serious accident during a race in 2006 where he tragically lost the ability to walk.

Mr Lecky stated; “The Intelligent Systems Research Centre here at the college is working on using technology to map the mind to enable people to operate things such as wheelchairs using their thoughts alone.”

“This sort of research can be used to help people who have also suffered from strokes, and have diminished mobility of specific parts of the body.”

“On average 55 people are paralyzed per year here in Northern Ireland and 80 per cent of those people are under the age of 40.”

McCrea added “Trevor is deeply invested in helping those who have been paralysed, supporting charities such as the MITRE Trust rehab at Musgrave hospital which treated him, and investigating avant-garde research which has led him to the decision to order a bionic suit to help him walk again.”

“This part of the university is a great opportunity to attract business to Northern Ireland, and bring us high quality jobs.  It also gives us the chance to become a vital hub in this area of research on the international stage.”

UUP Education Spokesperson Basil McCrea MLA speaking at the recent National Confederation of Parents and Teachers Association Gold Star Awards at Queen's University Belfast

UUP Education Spokesman Basil McCrea has today spoken of his anger and frustration that parents of children across Northern Ireland have not been offered suitable teacher led nursery places.

“In my constituency alone, there have been around 300 children in the SEELB area who have been told they may have to travel up to an hour each way just to attend a nursery school.  Parents want teacher led pre-school education, and they want it in their own area.”

“It is clear there are not sufficient nursery places, and the Department of Education has not gone far enough to ensure parents are given a choice on where to send their pre-schoolers. “

“This is a refusal by the Education Minister to keep up with demand for nursery school provision, and it’s yet more evidence to show how she has favoured private and community playgroups.”“The benefit of Nursery schools is that they are all led by qualified teachers, and the last inspectorate of schools has shown that -

“Nursery school teaching staff as part of their role are required to identify children with special needs and are able to start the statementing process much earlier.“

“This means that children with special needs will have a head start on going into primary school, and the statement will ensure they will have the access to the right support.”

“The Minister seems to constantly favour non-teacher led pre-school provisions.  The ability for nurseries to increase or decrease their places in line with demand depends on a development plan, which can take up to several years to complete.

“This is not flexible enough to cope with the rise and fall of birth rates in a given period. The process to increase play school places is much less complicated and can be done on a month to month basis. This shows a clear bias by the Minister and totally denies parents their right to choose.”

UUP Policing Spokeperson Basil McCrea MLA showed serious concern for the how the office relocation may create security issues, and hinder staff's family life

Three weeks ago an unexpected decision was taken by the Jobs and Benefits Office to relocate their Lisburn based Job seekers and Income support staff to Andersonstown.

MLA Basil McCrea stated how the decision will affect locals; “There is no doubt that some of the 350 new claims, or hundreds of individuals who use the centre each month will now have to travel to Andersonstown to speak to specialists on certain issues.”

“Speaking as a Policing Board Member I feel the interests of ex-service PSNI officers, or currently serving military officers claiming benefits such as income support or pensions are not being given adequate consideration in this decision.”

“The relocation of some claimant matters will create security issues that do not currently exist at a time of increased dissident activity.”

Speaking on the disruption to office staff Mr McCrea stated, “The staff have told me that they were only informed that they would have to relocate less than a month ago, and by the 4^th of July.”

“Many of the staff were only able to commit to part time hours at this office due to caring responsibility of elderly loved ones or very young children at local schools.”

“This interruption has put staff in a position where they may have to look for other jobs and since we are still battling high levels of unemployment this is simply cruel.”

One staff member from the Bow House Office added; “The Jobs and Benefit’s Office aims to have all staff with similar specializations located at the same office, whether it is convenient or not.”

“We will be provided with financial assistance to cover the costs of the extra distance to travel.”

“This money would be better spent on retraining staff members with skills that will allow them to stay in the Lisburn office.”

Mr McCrea added “It is a disgrace that the Minister for Social Development, Alex Attwood, has given so little consideration to the disruption to family life and the difficult position this decision has puts local inhabitants in.”

“I have contacted the Ministers offices and am doing my best to find a reasonable solution to this matter for all parties involved.”

Ballinderry resident Darren Leavesley son, Harry Leaveley stuck in a pothole. Joined by Downshire UUP Candidate Alistair O’Hara, Basil McCrea MLA, and Killultagh UUP Candidate Roy Hanna

UUP Council candidate Roy Hanna and Lagan Valley election candidate Basil McCrea MLA, have called for a resolution to an extraordinary ongoing road maintenance issue on Moss Lane in Lower Ballinderry, a 400m portion of which has not been tarred in over 25 years.

Aptly nicknamed by local residents ‘no man’s land’, the inertia of the local authorities and the increasingly dangerous state of the road has continually been putting residents and road users at risk of serious injury.

Killultagh Council UUP Candidate Roy Hanna stated, “Attempts to resolve the issue have fallen on deaf ears, with the Eastern division of road service leaving the burden to the Southern division.”

“The Southern division had previously agreed to provide the maintenance of this area, however in practice they have seriously neglected their obligation claiming to only be obligated to provide superficial road repair.”

A local resident described how dangerous the road has become; “My five grandchildren walk this road every morning to get the bus to school.”

“The road is so badly potholed that cars have to weave in and out large openings; this was extremely hazardous for the children during dark winter mornings when the roads were icy.”

Mr. Hanna then continued, “Local business has also increased, which has meant that large vehicles now use this stretch of road. Yet the DOE has not helped support this crucial increase in economic activity by providing sufficient maintenance to the roads.”

Lagan Valley UUP Assembly candidate Basil McCrea added, “This is bureaucracy at its worst. It seems ridiculous that a division would leave the last 400 meters of road un-tarred. This issue is symptomatic of an unwillingness of authorities to work together to improve the local area.”

This issue will remain as one of UUP Council Candidate Roy Hanna’s priorities coming into the Council elections. Supporting local resident’s key concerns and lobbying for better efficiencies in all departments of Government.

Ulster Unionist Spokesperson on Education, Basil McCrea MLA

Ulster Unionist Lagan Valley candidate Bail McCrea has responded to Peter Robinson’ latest intervention in the field of education.

Speaking at a hustings event at St Columbs Grammar School in Londonderry Basil McCrea said;

“The Ulster Unionist Party has always been in favour of a single educational system in theory, but the problem has always been the practical outworking of such a system.

Peter Robinson’s latest intervention in the Education debate is most interesting due to the strong rumour circulating that the DUP and Sinn Fein have already done a deal regarding Ministerial portfolios post the election, with the DUP seeking to take Education whilst letting Sinn Fein take Enterprise, Trade & Investment.

What is not in doubt is that the public require real clarity on this issue, because there are many people questioning just how many DUP figures actually believe Peter Robinson’s disingenuous conversion to mainstream politics. It is one thing to make speeches at DUP events and elsewhere but quite another to persuade the party of Clontibret and “Never, never, never, never” that a properly integrated education system is the way forward.

For Peter Robinson to advocate some kind of Commission raises questions as to the value he places on the Assembly and in particular the role and function of the Education Committee.

Parents cannot be forced down a particular road, there must be proper engagement and dialogue.

The Ulster Unionist Party is happy to engage and participate in such dialogue, hence my appearance at St Columbs today.

We support efficiencies in the system, whilst striving to protect what is best.

It is absolutely essential that Education ceases to be used as a political toy, at the mercy of ideologically driven Ministers. What education needs now is people who can build consensus. That is the Ulster Unionist Party.”

Billy-Jo Foundation supporter MLA Basil McCrea helps present new HD televisions to the Head Consultant, Paediatric Surgeon Mr Alistair Dick with charity founders Paula and Myrtle Woods

Charity organisation ‘Remember Billie-Jo Foundation’ today continued their on-going campaign to improve facilities for seriously ill children across Northern Ireland.

This morning they provided the Royal Hospital with new televisions for the babies, children and young people in their care, and promoted their collection of funds for a new Continuous Veno-Venous Haemofiltration (CVVH) bloody cleansing unit for improved dialysis treatment of severe conditions.

“From April of 2010 until now the Royal Hospital has provided intensive care for over 445 youngsters and that is likely to increase again this year,” stated local MLA Basil McCrea.

“This unit is the only Children’s Intensive Care Unit in the whole of Northern Ireland and has just eight beds to accommodate these numbers, which include patients not only from Belfast, but all over the province, with large numbers from Lagan Valley.”

“The department is also desperate for a CVVH blood cleansing unit which will improve the care and quality of life of many of the children in intensive care, and provide the best chance of recovery for many illnesses.”

“The founders of The Remember Billie-Jo Foundation, Myrtle and Paula Woods are working tirelessly to gather the £14,000 of funds to donate to the Royal Hospital to ensure the provision of this machine in a time of horrendous budget cuts and loss of crucial facilities.”

“Today they have provided televisions to the ward, and although it may seem like the simplest thing, the addition of these can make such a difference to a cold, sterile environment, brightening up a room to create a more welcoming and social atmosphere for weak or frightened ill children.”

“I am keen to support Myrtle and Paula’s cause, working to improve both the environment and care for sick children for Lagan Valley and beyond.”

Paula Woods added, “I founded this Charity in memory of my little daughter who sadly passed away in April 2009 aged 8 months.”

“All of her very short life was spent in the Pediatric ICU.  This is the only charity for this unit and we work very closely with the staff to understand what needs provided most.”

“We have our Annual Charity Ball taking place on Saturday 9^th April in the Europa Hotel and there are a few tickets still available, but every penny counts towards this specialist equipment and we appreciate all of the support we have had so far, and look forward to continuing with our fundraising for such a worthwhile cause.”

For further details or to donate, please contact the Remember Billy-Jo Foundation on 028 94 473865 or 07926 516030.

UUP Education Spokesperson Basil McCrea joins the protest with colleague Mid-Ulster UUP Candidate Sandra Overend

Today children and young people with severe learning disabilities from Parkview School and other special schools across Northern Ireland, made their way to the Assembly as part of the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust’s ‘Mile for Music Therapy’ event.

The group handed over a petition to MLAs for the Minister for Health and Social Services, Michael McGimpsey, to register their views for the protection of funding to Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust. The Trust has helped support approximately 600 children over the past eight years, and are currently at risk of losing all their funding due to reallocation within the budget.

“The Music Therapy services provided by the Trust are vital to the children and young people at Parkview and other schools across Northern Ireland” stated Basil McCrea.

“Music therapists work most commonly with the children and young people who have little or no abilities to communicate via speech. Therefore music therapy allows them a means to communicate and interact.”

“These professionals work alongside physiotherapists, occupational and speech and language therapists to aid the most vulnerable in our society, and help them develop alternative forms of communication.”

“This is a crucial link for parents and loved ones and must be protected in the budget. I will be standing alongside these children and young people today in support of the petition to protect these services for Lagan Valley and beyond.”

Basil McCrea, UUP Spokesperson on Policing

Speaking about today’s written ministerial statement by the Secretary of State on the use of Stop and Search powers under the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 Chair of the Policing Board’s Human Rights and Professional Standards Committee Basil McCrea MLA said:

“The Board has been conducting a review on the use of stop and search powers and today’s statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland provides further context  on the use of particular powers and authorisations required for policing in Northern Ireland. The Committee will now consider the implications and outworkings on the changes being brought forward as part of the current thematic review.

As a Committee we recognise and support the need for police to be able to use powers to meet the challenges of dealing with crime, criminality and those who remain intent on disrupting the peace. But we also have to ensure that the rights checks and balances are in place so that the community can have confidence that powers are being used proportionately and in line with the stringent guidelines that govern their use.

One of the key issues identified during our consultation on this issue is the potential damage that stop and search can have on community confidence; and the need for the police to explain to the public why particular powers are being used.”