Post-It On Politics
10/02/2010 North Down MLA's praise work of Macmillan Cancer Support

19/01/2010 Call for immediate steps to help savers in the Presbyterian Mutual Society

12/01/2010 Significant drop in drink-driving figures welcomed

09/12/2009 Lesie Cree MLA visits Bangor Post Office over the festive season

03/12/2009 Domestic Burglary in Northern Ireland still on increase - Cree

03/12/2009 Cree welcomes findings from the NI crime Survey

26/11/2009 Bank charge ruling will hit consumers hard - Cree

24/11/2009 Fuel price hikes costing consumers dearly - Cree

24/11/2009 Time to pick a team for DUP

26/10/2009 Economy speech at UUP Conference on 24 October 2009

21/10/2009 UUP Response to Invest NI Motion in the Assembly 20 October 2009

19/10/2009 Cree calls for firework safety in North Down

15/10/2009 Cree calls for renewed efforts to combat alchol abuse

13/10/2009 Redburn Students Interview Local Politician

05/10/2009 Fuel Poverty is a real and persistent problem -Cree

29/09/2009 Institutional change ahead for Invest NI - Cree

29/09/2009 Cree supports PSNI targeting smugglers

22/09/2009 Party welcomes Matt Baggott to the PSNI

21/09/2009 Cree expresses drug fears

17/09/2009 We need more statistical information on drug driving offences - Cree

10/09/2009 Counterfeit goods seizure commended - Cree

10/09/2009 phoenix Gas reductions welcome - Cree

10/09/2009 Cree expresses concern at 'support for vigilantism'

03/08/2009 Cree welcomes gender specific consultation for Women Prisoners

03/08/2009 Cree responds to cigarette seizure

09/07/2009 Stabbing condemnation

07/07/2009 Domestic Burglary still on the rise - Cree

02/07/2009 Cree welcomes summer holidays but warns of dangers of acholol

25/06/2009 Economic Debate N I Assembly 23 June 2009

25/06/2009 Full Time reserve must be kept -Cree

09/06/2009 Bee Motion 8 June 2009

19/05/2009 Decrease in loutish behaviour in North Down Welcomed - Cree

19/05/2009 PSNI must refocus victims needs - Cree

13/05/2009 Bee Proactive - Call for more research into bees

13/05/2009 'Bee Proactive'

23/03/2009 Domestic burglaries in North Down have decreased - Cree

10/03/2009 No action by criminals should interfere with peace and stability - Cree

04/03/2009 DUP's posion is obscence- Cree

04/03/2009 UUP gain unanimous support for Business proposals

17/02/2009 The Credit Union Movement has a bright future in Northern Ireland - Cree

17/02/2009 I want a guarantee from the Minister of Finance that this Executive is delivering -Cree

12/02/2009 Cree commends PSNI crackdown on burglary

10/02/2009 Cree welcomes role of education to eliminate and raise awareness of violence against women

22/01/2009 Cree Welcomes Drop in Winter Drink Drive Figures in North Down

Environmental Issues

  • Poor enforcement of Policy and Legislation
  • Low priority given to the environment by Government and/or lack of resources
  • Inadequate deterrents for those who break Environmental Legislation

The existing safeguards have failed and it is essential that we have an Independent Environmental Protection Agency to safeguard and improve our environment.

We need to secure and protect more public open space for light recreational purposes and provide natural habitats for wildlife.

A unique opportunity exists to develop a wetlands park between the Green and Balloo Roads. I am involved with the North Down Business Village Company which is noe in the process of delivering this project.

There is also an opportunity to secure a major new park land for residents and visitors. This will provide a significant legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Environmental Health

North Down Borough Council is responsible for the following areas that make up environmental health.

  • Food and Infectious Disease Control
  • Health and Safety at Work
  • Consumer Protection
  • Licensing/Dog Warden Service
  • Public Health
  • Pollution Control

The Environmental Health Department is also involved in health promotion activities within the Borough.

Clean Air

The quality of the air we breathe is important to all of us. Improving air quality as well as meeting National and European Air Quality Standards are key targets for Government and District Councils.

Air quality is monitored at several sites in North Down to measure sulphur dioxide nitrogen dioxide and smoke levels. Also the Department of the Environment produces an annual report.

We must continue to be vigilant and monitor pollution levels regularly to ensure a healthy environment.

Water and Sewerage

Water and SewageNorthern Ireland has suffered from chronic under-investment in its infrastructure particularly with water and sewerage.

The Government is now, because of pressure from Europe, taking the necessary action to improve the infrastructure and bring it up to required standards.

The Governments proposals mean that householders in North Down would have to pay in the region of an additional £200 when the charges are fully phased in.

Their system of assessing the charge would be based upon the value of the property and not the actual consumption of water.

Although property values in North Down are high it is not the sole indicator of wealth and there are many elderly people and others on fixed income, which would mean hardship for them in paying the charges.

I believe that the Governments proposals are not acceptable and people should not have to pay again for this lack of infrastructure investment. It would seem that the Government is arranging a halfway house prior to the privatisation of the Water Service.

Before people are asked to pay more for water and sewerage it is essential that the necessary services be brought up to acceptable standards.

I have and will continue to negotiate with the Water Reform Unit to press for an acceptable package for the improvement of these services at a fair cost to users.

Waste Management

Waste ManagementI take a keen interest in this subject and am involved in important working committees that deal with waste management.

Apart from environmental issues the management of waste is significantly expensive and will soon be the highest cost to councils.

Bin Collection

Bin CollectionUp until recently all we had to do was place all of our waste in the grey bin and that was the end of it as it went to a landfill site. As part of the European Union’s Policy on Waste Management there are now massive costs on using landfill sites that are intended to act as a deterrent to using this method of waste disposal.

We now have to recycle as much as possible to reduce our costs and to benefit the environment.

I have been on study tours in Europe on behalf of the Arc 21 Group and have discovered how they solve their problems. Many of these solutions can be used in Northern Ireland and will reduce the cost to North Down ratepayers.

We now have three types of bin collection: -

  • Blue, for material that can be recycled
  • Grey, for materials which can’t be recycled at this time
  • Green for waste 

Recycling

RecyclingWe have embarked on a considerable programme for recycling of materials and have entered into contracts with third parties so that these materials may be reprocessed. By recycling we can reduce our costs and avoid punitive charges.

Some materials have a ready market and therefore can produce revenue to offset council costs in the collection and distribution of waste. Other materials do not have a ready market demand therefore the Council has to pay for them to be removed. Glass is a current example.

In the future we are expected to reduce the amount of waste, which we produce, recycle wherever possible and attempt to eliminate the remainder of waste, which goes to landfill.

North Down Borough Council Civic Amenity SiteThe local Council developed a new amenities site on the Rathgael Road some twenty years ago (right). At the time it was one of the most modern in Northern Ireland being complete with a compactor station and jumbo waste containers.

New State of the Art Amenities Centre

North Down Borough Council has now opened a  “state of the art” amenities site at Balloo that will adequately treat our waste for the foreseeable future. This will include a new “bring centre” to make it even easier for residents to dispose of their waste.

Recycle Centre - click to view larger image

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