Get the trains back to Armagh – cost of claims in ABC borough eye-watering!
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On the day it was confirmed that re-opening the railway line between Portadown and Armagh was “feasible and deliverable” we also unearthed some eye-catching figures being dished out by the very same department which would ultimately be responsible for bringing trains back to Armagh city.
In the last financial year, the Department for Infrastructure paid out a whopping £356,000 in claims in the ABC borough alone – that’s almost £1,000 a day, and I didn’t even need a calculator for that. Those figures don’t even include the claims that undoubtedly came in from south Armagh and Newry; after all, some of the roads in south Armagh are among the worst around.
While the news of the technical study findings was met with some scepticism – which is understandable considering the Department doesn’t has a pot to….you know the rest – it’s hard to argue against lessening the burden on our roads.
And let’s take Georgian Day just gone, the biggest date in the Armagh calendar, thousands streamed into Armagh but imagine the potential numbers if there was a reliable train service well into the evening? While accommodation providers may have been given a boost, think of the extra boost it would have been to the nighttime economy.
If you were cynical you’d agree with the naysayers – it’s just another pipe dream but the economic opportunities it could – and would – present would far outweigh any initial outlay. More longer-term thinking may be required here.
Headlines
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🏠 Win a four-bedroom, turn-key home in Armagh with McKinney Competitions (or £200k cash!)
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⛔ Drink driver caught in Newry jailed and banned from roads for four years
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Armagh Jobs
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🆕 Armagh City Hotel require a Kitchen Porter and Fitness Instructor.
🆕 Mount Charles require several Cleaning Operatives across the county.
✅Armagh City Hotel require Temporary Seasonal Staff.
✅ Re-Gen Waste have several vacancies available.
Job Profile
Within just a few short months, Go Coffee‘s Rebecca Craig has her foot firmly planted on the next rung of the career ladder. Having recently secured a promotion into a Supervisory role, the always-up-for-a-challenge Rebecca continues to focus on ways to add value to the company. Read Rebecca’s full Q&A here.
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Notice Board
📖 Book Launch | Manic by Mark Brownlee | Abbey Lane Theatre, Armagh, BT61 7DW | Tuesday, November 28 | Read more about Mark’s mental health struggles and how it helped him write his book here.
🎄 Bessbrook Christmas Lights Switch-On | Village Centre | Wednesday, November 29 | Free gifts from Santa on the night. Children's Christmas carols will be performed by local schools, live music stage and much more...
🎤 Christmas Carols at St Mark’s Church, Portadown | Friday, December 1 | 8pm | With Portadown Ladies Choir, Portadown Male Voice Choir and Guest Soloists Aimee Campbell(Soprano) and Eugene O'Hagan (Tenor).
👕 Pre-Loved Market | Hosted by Second Hand Sal | Market House, Main Street, Middletown | Thursday December 7 | 6pm | Clothing, shoes and accessories. Raffles prizes on the night with all proceeds going to Alzheimer's NI.
🎄Armagh City Choir Christmas Concert | St. Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral | Friday December 8 | 7.30pm | £10 admission, pay at door or tickets available from choir members. The Christmas Festive period is approaching, and Armagh City Choir is preparing for its Annual Christmas Concert. “We may not be Santa’s Little Helpers, but we do our best to help create a festive spirit for Armagh city and surrounding areas.”
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