Cllr Gareth Spratt

A good event tonight discussing how we move our city forward, this will open to community consultation as the next stage with the South Belfast event due to be held in the Crescent Arts Theatre on 13th October 10am to 1pm.

🌹 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 - 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗

Today my thoughts are with the families of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar, as another year passes without their loved ones and without justice.💔

East Belfast DUP

A message from Christopher’s wife Laura……❤️

📣 ALL PACKS HAVE NOW GONE 📣

A FURTHER BATCH WILL BE RELEASED AFTER THE EASTER HOLIDAYS AND ALL THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WILL RECEIVE A REPLY

We are now taking orders for our popular Craft Packs! ✂️✏️

We have a limited amount available and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis, for collection from the museum.

Suitable for children at Key Stage 1 and 2, each pack is full of learning and fun and includes instructions to make your own Identity Card, Ration Book, and Spitfire as well as a Spitfire fact sheet, x2 colouring pages and an NIWM pencil. 😀

Craft packs are FREE and available to order one per pupil.🧍‍♀️

Order now by emailing [email protected] and tell us:

🔸Name of school
🔸Number of packs required
🔸Pick up date and time

𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗬’𝗦 𝗨-𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗦

Read more https://mydup.com/news/bradley-hargeys-u-turn-proves-she-was-playing-politics

Devastating to learn of Christopher's passing, he achieved much in an all too short time. Above all else Christopher was a dedicated father and my thoughts are with his children of whom he was so proud, Laura, his mother and the extended family.

Update on the easing of restrictions.

Honoured to receive a commerative print and coin to celebrate the Centenary of Northern Ireland from Lord Mayor Frank McCoubrey along with my South Belfast colleagues Sarah Bunting and Tracey Kelly.
Hoping Frank has an enjoyable last month in post, he has been a gracious and considered servant to the city in such a difficult year.

It was a privilege to welcome Economy Minister Diane Dodds and Sir Jeffrey Donaldson MP to Taughmonagh yesterday along with my colleague Cllr Sarah Bunting . I have engaged with Belfast Met to request the delivery of Community based Learning projects and for the delivery of Maths and English at the Taughmonagh Enterprise Centre. If you are interested and would like to know more please message me, [email protected] or call on 07823668786.
Educational attainment is vital for our community and this project offers a great opportunity.

Tonight! Keep an eye to City Hall and see the searchlights as night falls and remember a generation that sacrificed so much, that we may be free.

Following a request from DUP Councillors on Belfast City Council, Belfast City Hall will be illuminated in red tomorrow evening (Thursday 11th March) to mark European Day of Remembrance of Victims of Terrorism.

This follows on from Sinn Féin’s attempt to block the illumination of Stormont to mark this event.

Thank you to all parties who supported our request.

Today we will lay my Dad to rest, if anyone wishes to join in the celebration of Jimmy Spratt's life please join us online on the Granshaw Presbyterian Church Website. The stream will begin at 2:15 and the service at 2:30.
As a family we would ask that you join us online to respect Covid restrictions.
Many Thanks
Gareth Spratt.

Revised Bin Collections for New Year's Day

** Missing Person Appeal **
Mark Wight has been missing for 4 days, search teams have been out today and this is causing great distress to his family. If you know anything about Mark's whereabouts please contact the PSNI urgently.

A fantastic initiative announced by Diane Dodds supporting the training of our young people and investing in their future as well as business.
https://mydup.com/news/employers-will-receive-up-to-3-700-for-every-apprentice-brought-into-the-workplace-dodds

Red Arrows due for a flypast this afternoon to mark VJ Day expected over Belfast at 2pm.

Full statement from the Belfast City Council DUP group.

Another step closer to normality!!
And remember to continue to social distance.

Great to be out with my colleague Sarah Bunting this morning and to meet some of the committee of Taughmonagh Young Men FC.

👮‍♀️ 𝙋𝙎𝙉𝙄 𝙍𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 👮‍♀️

After the CC's u-turn, we as your DUP Policing Board Team want to let you know about our work at the Board to stop some of the controversial aspects of the rebranding. A timetable is outlined below 👇🏻

▶️ 16 March, we request a meeting to discuss vehicle livery - pictures were appearing on social media.

▶️ 7 May, full PB meeting, we raise changes to social media accounts and challenge that due process has not been followed - the Board was not consulted. We request a full briefing for the Partnership ctte. Chief Constable states the aim of the changes was to ensure consistency of PSNI branding, and gives assurances crest and name will remain unchanged.

▶️ 15 May, The Belfast Newsletter quotes the Chief Constable as stating "We are still the Police Service of NI and this is set in law so there will be no change to the name of the service or the service crest."

▶️ 20 May, meeting with Chief Constable about a number of issues. On the matter of re-branding, we are advised the name and insignia will not be changing.

▶️ 21 May, at Partnership Committee a presentation to members has no mention of changes to crest and a written report from PSNI to Board members states that the crest could not be changed. We emphasise that there must be no attempt to diminish NI. We also raise concerns about potential new uniforms, reiterating that they should be practical but must command respect and authority.

▶️ 4 June, full PB meeting, a pack is left on desks giving first indications of changes to the service crest. It is not on the agenda. Members attending by Zoom do not receive the pack. Nobody on the Board knew of the proposals for the crest contained in this pack until after the meeting.

▶️ 5 June, one day after the pack was given to some Policing Board members, the Chief Constable tweets about proposed changes to the appearance of the crest. Statement issued from DUP PB Team indicating opposition to changes to crest.

▶️ 9 June, Chief Constable issues a statement saying the new version of the crest was a 'non-starter'.

Some of the rebranding will still be subject to public consultation and we would encourage you to make your views known when it opens.

We want to assure our community that we repeatedly raised the issues around the elements of re-branding which were causing them concern and each time received assurances that there would be no changes to the service name or the crest. We are delighted that the Chief Constable saw sense and decided to withdraw the proposal.

We will continue to work and influence the Board and the PSNI to ensure the issues that matter to our community around policing are raised and addressed.

Update road is open

🛑Lisburn road closed between Finaghy crossroads and kings hall. Suspect bomb scare. Avoid the area