Since the last AGM on 01 Feb 2007, there have been 11 Committee meetings and these have been well attended.  The Committee has continued to work on a number of fronts and has made significant progress in several areas.  These are reported below.

The 2007 Committee was as follows:

Chairman                                Joe Maclean

Vice-Chairman                        Derek Millar

Hon Secretary                         Kellie Armstrong

Hon treasurer                          Diane McIlveen

Minutes secretary                   Ronnie McDaniel

Committee members:               

                                                Lee Jenkinson

                                                Andrew Gillespie,

                                                Jennifer Macrory

                                                June Baillie

                                                Terry Young

                                                Jeff Smith

                                                Jane Smith                                                                                 

                                                Alistair Dunn

                Yolande Truesdale

                Jackie Peden

During the year Jennifer Macrory, June Bailie and Terry Young resigned their positions on the Committee. The Committee was then joined by Yolande Truesdale and Jackie Peden.

Report of activities during the year – we have had another very busy and active year, with fewer new projects and the emphasis on consolidating and completing the projects in progress.

Roads and Road Safety

We continued our campaign on several road safety issues and have achieved some success, with other issues still to be resolved.  Roads Service has now indicated support for reducing the speed limit along Main Road to 30 mph. During the year the following issues have been considered:

·         New footpath link Quarter Road (Orange Hall to School) work has been delayed on this footpath while boundary considerations are reviewed by Roads Service. CDCA will continue pressure to ensure safe pedestrian use of this stretch of road which links the school to the Cloughey Kids Club after schools centre.

·         Proposal for footpath on Main Road near post office Roads Service’s current position is that it would be expensive to sort out and even a narrow pavement could not be provided because of floor and road levels.  In the production of the draft area plan it has been noted that alternative space could be extended on the sea side of the road if a pedestrian walk way is progressed. CDCA are keen for this proposal to be adopted and are working with Road Service / ABC on this issue.

·         Speeding and new traffic calming proposals on Main Road – Roads Service co-operated with phase 1 of our Boulevard tree-planting scheme (2006/2007) by allowing the trees to be planted on the grass verge on the land ward side of the road.  We have put forward a Phase 2 proposal that would involve reducing the width of the road and more tree planting. Discussions are continuing with Roads Service with a view to agreeing a design that will provide effective traffic calming and improve the appearance of the village.  If we are unable to obtain the cooperation of Roads Service for this proposal to narrow the road, our fall-back proposal is to plant another line of trees on the sea-ward side of the road to provide a boulevard effect. CDCA are currently reviewing prices for this option.

·         New Assembly Hall/Gymnasium at Primary School – The Education Board plan to extend Kirkistown Primary school and build a much needed Assembly Hall / Gymnasium. Plans are under review as boundary and site issues are being reviewed to ensure there is adequate space for the new building. Once completed the new hall will be available for some community use.

·         Sewerage - A new temporary Waste Water Treatment plant will be constructed at Slanes Point, Cloughey beside the existing retention tank. The scheme is currently on hold while the planning process is completed. The temporary plant will be located in Cloughey for a period of 5-7 years. After this time the plant will be removed with the new permanent Waste Water Treatment plant located further north – to serve Cloughey, Portavogie and Ballyhalbert.

Environmental improvement schemes

Somme Memorial Garden

The public garden, situated between Main Road and the Beach at Cloughey was completed during 2006, with the painting of the wall and erection of new colourful plaques commemorating the Somme. The 2 side plaques were designed by the children of Kirkistown PS and St Patrick’s PS, Ballygalget.  We have received a lot of positive feedback from residents pleased that the new plaques brighten up this corner of the village.  This small garden area adjoins the open grass play area beside the playground and provides a pleasant place for people to sit in peaceful contemplation.  Committee members have continued to improve the garden and have planted a protective row or Phormium along the sea side of the garden.

The Centre piece – a sculpture entitled New Day was erected in time for the Remembrance Day service 11 Nov 2007. This sculpture is designed to remember the local men who fell at The Somme. The piece is reminiscent of a War Grave and is cut from Portland Stone. The piece shows two children holding hands looking out to sea. The piece is set so that the sun rises onto the stone on 1 July in remembrance of The Somme.

In order to commemorate the fallen, CDCA in conjunction with representatives of 16^th and 36^th regiments, The Girls Brigade and the Royal British Legion laid commemorative crosses and wreaths at the Childrens Somme Garden on 11^th November 2007. The event was well attended by local people. From the sale of commemorative crosses a donation of £250 was presented to The Royal British Legion by CDCA.

Application has been made to further improve the garden with the addition of low level lighting. This lighting will serve two functions. To illuminate the garden during the darker autumn and winter months and also to protect this much appreciated community garden. The lights should provide a deterrent for youths who gather in darkness to drink alcohol and who are involved with anti-social behaviour.

Boulevard scheme - Children of Cloughey – tree planting scheme

This scheme was conceived to improve the appearance of Main Road Cloughey and by introducing some trees into the footpath area. The trees were planted in early 2006.  The plaques with the names of over 300 children currently living in the district were added and the children and their families were invited to plant bulbs. 

During the year more bulbs have been planted so that all year colour will be evidenced along the Boulevard.

CDCA are keen for families to keep an interest in their tree and to ensure weeding and care is taken around the name plaques.

Campaign against proposed sell-off of Council Land at Main Road.

This ongoing campaign has resulted in a consultation process with various minority groups and the community at large. The ABC decision to sell of the land is still ongoing and a planning application has been made for a single dwelling on the site. 

  Main Road Cloughey

   Narrow strip of land Council proposes

    to sell off for development

Community Facilities

Use of Pavilion - Screening of bowling green was completed during 2007 to provide a more suitable play area for bowlers.

Tennis – Alistair Dunn successfully instigated a Tennis Group at Cloughey. A professional coach was enlisted to provide coaching courses for children and adults. The ongoing negotiations with Ards Council have resulted in approval for an improved play surface, floodlighting and fencing with windbreaks.  This work will be carried out in Spring 2008.   

Primary School – Principal Gillian Wallace met with the Committee and announced that Kirkistown Primary School is being provided with a new assembly hall/gymnasium that will be available for use by community groups.  Construction started last month and the new facility should be completed by September 2008.

Old Presbyterian Church – The Church Committee is not prepared to allow the building to be converted to community use at the present time.  The building is in poor repair and unless some maintenance work is done it is likely to deteriorate and become very expensive to refurbish.

Entertainment – Our Fourth Children’s Halloween Party was another success with around 200 children and parents called in during the afternoon and a good time was had by all.  Entertainments included games provided by Lee and Alistair, face painting and a fancy dress costume competition sponsored and judged by Watson’s Centra. The Committee provided the support with Kellie Armstrong, Jane Smith and Diane McIlveen to the fore. Thanks to Watson’s Centra for their support for this successful community event.

   Rhianna (best costume)

     with Phil Watson

Christmas tree - We again provided a Christmas tree at Cloughey Primary School, and Santa visited it for the switching on of the lights and to distribute presents.  As always the children enjoyed the event.

Medical Emergency response times – a local solution? CDCA had a meeting with a representative of Heart Start – an organisation who provides support and guidance in communities where there is a need for improved response times in a medical emergency (such as when someone is having a heart attack). Cloughey is already well placed to consider locating a portable defibrillator and having an emergency team of volunteers who could respond quickly in an emergency. There are a large number of local people trained in CPR. Funding to support the purchase of one or two defibrillators is under consideration. Heart Start CPR training will be provided during Feb 08 at Ardkeen Church Hall.

Diane McIlveen will bring a consultant (heart specialist) to a meeting during 2008 to further discuss the community solutions to this emotional and difficult problem. CDCA will also work with other local community groups who are also considering providing a local solution to medical emergencies.

Security Issues

Security Lights at Childrens’ Somme Garden – In order to reduce anti social behaviour CDCA have applied for a grant to add low level security lights at the Children’s Somme Garden. This has recently been approved and agreement for low level lighting to be placed by Summer 08.

Home security for the elderly – we have continued to supply safety door locks and personal alarms for the vulnerable and elderly in the District. CDCA also helped to distribute medical aid bottles (to include medial information for use by emergency services in the event of an emergency).

Vandalism and anti-social behaviour – We have established a good working relationship with the Anti-social Behaviour Unit at Newtownards and they have been active in restricting motorcycle and quad bike activity in the warren.  This activity causes damage and potential erosion to the dunes that are part of an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).  The PSNI have acquired a quad bike to patrol the beaches and sand dunes of the peninsula!

Good Neighbour Scheme -   We have continued to participate in this scheme and have attended the Safety Forum on a regular basis. 

CDCA decided against developing the existing Good Neighbour Scheme to a full Neighbourhood Watch as the later scheme could not be managed appropriately at this time.

CDCA aims to have the existing Good Neighbour scheme notices replaced around the district and are seeking a sponsor for the project.

Communications

Newsletter – During the year we produced and distributed 4 issues of our newsletter.  After Jennifer Macrory’s retirement from the Committee, Kellie Armstrong continued to  produce the publication. The numbers delivered increase with 800 per issue being distributed. Thanks to the Ni Housing Executive who now produce the newsletter in colour. Our thanks to committee members who distribute it to all of the households in the District. This enables us to keep local residents informed about our activities and to contact us.

Website – The www.cloughey.org.uk website has been steadily expanded to provide additional information on all aspects of life in Cloughey and District including the local weather forecast, bin collections dates and tides!

Notice board – We have placed a large map of the Ards Peninsula on the notice board for visitors to find their way to local points of interest.  A copy of the latest Community Newsletter is also posted along with notices of forthcoming events.

Finance

CDCA does not charge its members any subscription and relies on other fund-raising activities to fund its activities.  Our Chairman Joe Maclean has organised regular quiz nights held at the White Inn Ardminnan, where apart from the entry fees money has been raised from auctioning donated items including Joe’s home-made wine!

During 2007 CDCA secured grants from various funding bodies including the Arts Council for Northern Ireland and various grants through ABC.

Hon Treasurer Diane McIlveen reports that our current balance is a healthy £1964.96.      

Kellie Armstrong

Hon Secretary

07 February 2008