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Groomsport Local News

 

60+ Smartpass Travel

On 23rd June, Transport Minister Conor Murphy MP MLA confirmed that those aged between 60 and 64 would be entitled to free public transport in Northern Ireland from 1st October 2008 - with the new 60 Smartpass.

The new 60 Smartpass comes into play from 1st October 2008 and entitles those aged 60 to 64 to unlimited free public transport in Northern Ireland from that date - upon production of a 60 Smartpass.

Around 90,000 consumers are potentially eligible for the new scheme.
The new 60 SmartPass will operate in addition to the existing 65 Senior SmartPass, which was introduced in 2002.

The application process for the new 60 Smartpass is currently underway.

Consumers must get their applications in by 29th August to ensure they receive their Smartpass in time for 1st October.

Application forms are available by calling the 60 Smartpass hotline (0845 600 0049) or by logging on to www.60smartpass.info

To support the application process, Translink is setting up 26 dedicated application centres, mainly at bus and rail stations around the province but also at Grosvenor House in Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry. These centres will open from 30th June and run until 29th August
Applicants must bring their fully completed application form AND proof of identification & proof of residency documents to their local application centre.

 

 

Groomsport 1960

Denis Mayne Collection - Click to Enlarge

 

More Groomsport Photographs

 

Groomsport Beach is Recommended

 

 

The Marine Conservation Society has published its latest guide to the state of the UK's beaches.

The ratings are based on tests on bathing water at 779 beaches around the UK, conducted between May and September 2007.

They assess quality of the water and how sewage discharge is treated.

The MCS recommends a beach in its Good Beach Guide only if it exceeds the guideline European water quality standard and is not affected by inadequately treated continuous sewage discharge.

Groomsport was awarded the highest rating:

MCS Recommended which means - Highest water quality and good sewage treatment

Bathing water quality in Groomsport is monitored by Environment & Heritage Service (EHS). Water Quality Inspectors collect the water samples on behalf of the EHS. The samples are then analysed by the Water Management Unit, Lisburn.

The bathing season in Northern Ireland runs from June through to mid-September. Water quality is assessed on 20 occasions during this period.

This information is updated weekly during this period and represented in the format of colour-coded posters.

To view the 2007 Bathing Water Quality Poster CLICK HERE

This will open a PDF format file. If your computer cannot read it - then download a free reader from Adobe Acrobat Here

 

 

Beach Litter: Groomsport gets a "B"

The beach litter classification scheme was designed to assess the aesthetic quality of bathing beaches used for recreational purposes.

This scheme is a visual survey with no litter being collected by the assessors.

The parameters used in the assessment are: sewage related litter and debris, potentially harmful litter items, gross litter, general litter, accumulations of litter, oil pollution and the occurrence of faeces of non-human origin.

Groomsport received a "B" (Good) rating.

 

 

 

 

 

85% of the entire world's population of around 30,000 Brent Geese winters in Strangford Lough from October to April

 

Light-bellied brent geese have one of the longest migrations. In April they travel a staggering 2,900 miles from Ireland via Iceland and Greenland, where they fatten up, increasing their weight by up to 40 % in preparation for the final 1,865 mile flight over frozen Greenland to their breeding grounds in Canada.

Brent geese nest on the boggy Arctic tundra, where the severe climate allows them only about two months of good weather in which to raise a family. By mid-September, they have left their breeding grounds, and arrive in large flocks on our shores in early October. They spend the winter feeding on eelgrass in estuaries and on crops in adjoining fields.

Photo by Richard Taylor-Jones

Tourists Pouring into N. Ireland

 

A record 2,051,000 visitors came to Northern Ireland in 2007— an increase of 4% from 2006. The revenue from tourism in 2007 was estimated at £366,000,000

 

Northern Ireland has received significant praise as a tourist destination. In 2006, the ‘Lonely Planet’ travel guide tipped Northern Ireland as one of the “must see” countries to visit, and listed Belfast as one of the top 10 cities “on the rise”.

In November 2007, Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board unveiled their 2008 tourism marketing plans. It was realised that to increase the number of visitors to Northern Ireland, it was essential that the infrastructure be improved.

The Programme for Government estimated an increase in tourist numbers from 1·98 million to 2·5 million, and an increase in tourism revenue from £370,000,000 to £520,000,000, by 2011. Furthermore, it was hoped that the tourism sector would be developed and Northern Ireland promoted:

“as a must-visit destination to facilitate growth in business and leisure visitors.”

Political tourism attracts many visitors. Curiosity is a major reason for that attraction. During the years, Belfast City Council has carried out several tourist surveys. The results indicate that more visitors would rather see attractions that relate to the Troubles than those that relate to the Titanic Quarter. Despite many peoples misgivings about it, political or cultural tourism has a role to play. Countries such as Poland and Germany have marketed that type of tourism, of which the Berlin Wall is probably the best example.

Groomsport Properties For Sale

 

Whale Watch Ireland 2008

 

Did you know that Irish waters offer among the best land-based whale watching opportunities in Europe? To date 24 cetacean species have been recorded in Irish waters.
Whale watching affords an opportunity to see stunning coastal scenery and a variety of marine wildlife.
Sightings of Dolphins and Whales have been made in the Copelands area, Groomsport and Donaghadee, Portmuck, Islandmagee, Antrim, Newcastle Harbour, Co. Down.

Copeland Islands

At the mouth of Belfast Lough. Access is limited with only the outer islands offering reasonable cetacean watching. Access to Lighthouse (Observatory) Island arranged through Copeland Bird Observatory. Accommodation available at Observatory. See www.cbo.org.uk for further details.