Lisburn News

Police chief
urges drivers to cut road toll

IN 1969 the Lisburn's police District Inspector said there were still far too many motorists not exercising proper care and he appealed to all road users to help cut the death toll in the coming year.

Statistics showed that one of the major causes of road accidents was motorists failing to observe direction signs, especially when entering major roads from minor roads.

One of the other main causes was speed and too many motorists exceeding the speed limit in restricted areas.

Lisburn goes
for a song
over antiques

THE antiques bug hit Lisburn in 1969. Since weekly classes had started at Lisburn Technical College a record number of 92, mainly women, signed on for the 10-lecture course run by the W.E.A.

"It is an all time record," said the chairman of the Lisburn branch of the W.E.A. And we think new interest has arisen from the television programme 'Going for a Song."

Each Tuesday the W.E.A classroom in the College, which normally held about 30, was packed for the lectures. 'These were designed as an introductory course.

PAST TIMES

Looking back at news from Lisburn's past

Lisnagarvey Hockey Club created a record in April, 1958 when they won both the Irish Senior Cup and Junior Cup on the same day. The Firsts defeated Dublin University 2-0 at Cliftonville while the Seconds defeated YMCA Seconds 1.0 in Dublin. Our picture shows Firsts captain Steven Johnston receiving the Senior Cup from Mrs. W. A. Shooter.

Riddle of lost estate

IN 1985 it was a reported that a housing estate in Lisburn officially did not exist and the anonymity of Montgomery Drive was proving an acute embarrassment to residents.

No name plate directed callers to this section of the Greenwood estate, off the Ballynahinch Road, which had been redeveloped by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

The confusion even led to a wedding limousine losing its way, literally leaving the bride with no option but to exercise her prerogative of being late at the church.

Local people related a series of incidents which included a fire engine stopping for directions and ambulance men having to cope with similar puzzlement over missing or disfigured street signs.

A Housing Executive investigation established that the sign had been demolished during redevelopment work. "We now have a new one on order and it should be in place in around six weeks time," said a spokesman.

Meanwhile to was also reported that Lisburn council had spent £8,000 on the replacement of disfigured and vandalised street names.

Changing face of Lisburn in £5 million project

THE face of town centre Lisburn was to undergo a major transformation it was reported in 1985.

The economic climate in the borough was to be dramatically improved by the emergence of three huge shopping complexes.

Clearance work was underway at the Eason site in Bow Street, outfitting giants Burton's were moving in almost directly opposite and a £5 million project was unveiled by Crazy Prices.

The Crazy Prices management were to build one of the biggest shopping centre sin Northern Ireland which would cover part of Bow Street and Antrim Street.

The summer of 1986 was projected as the completion date for the Eason precinct, which would provide the town with a top quality newspaper, bookselling and stationery outlet.

The original Eason shop was scheduled to be demolished but a company spokesman indicated that trading would continue.

The Eason enterprise would obviously mean jobs, Crazy Prices having announced their intention of recruiting a 200 strong work force.

This was good news for the borough where unemployment was rising and was running at 5,700. Burton were to take up residence in Bow Street replacing the old Redmond Jefferson building.

You could have driven off in a new Skoda for a sum of £2795 back in 1966 as advertised then by Temple Service Station. The Crazy Prices site, totaling about seven acres would have some 20 shopping units and there would be work in the new complex for an additional 200 people.

A new car park was being provided by the firm on the site of the old Stewart's mill, which was demolished.

News of the development was given by representatives of the firm who attended the Lisburn Borough Council planning committee meeting. The complex would include a covered-in mall area and the area of the whole complex would be some 128,000 sq ft.

A planning application was to be made in due course and it was expected that the development would take about 15 months.

News of the enterprise was given every support by the council members and the firm's representatives said they looked on Lisburn as a great town in which to expand their business.

You could have driven off in a new Skoda for a sum of £2795 back in 1966 as advertised then by Temple Service Station.

Traffic signs at junction

THE DoE Roads Service was to erect traffic signals at the junction of Bow Street - Chapel Hill - Market Place in 1969.

Alderman William Belshaw said this was welcome news for motorists because of heavy traffics emerging into Bow Street from Market Place and the Longstone.

Yellow lines were to be placed on the right hand side of McKeown Street.

Six cars stolen in surge of thefts

In 1986 it was reported that there had been a surge in car thefts. In one week alone six cars were stolen in the Lisburn area.

During the early hours of one morning a Vauxhall Cavalier was stolen from Killowen Crescent.
Later that afternoon, a Ford Granada was taken from the Antrim Street Car Park.

A Ford Fiesta car was stolen from the Pipers Hill car park and two cars were taken from the Linenhall Street car park overnight. Property was also stolen from the cars.

Ulster Star
20/01/2012