Opening of the Annexe Gallery
	Sheena Bradley and daughter Jessica who attended the opening of the Annexe Gallery in Island Irish Art and also the unveiling of the Ross Wilson painting ‘Tuesday’s Angel’. CCAL4618.
Writing on the wall for graffiti
COLERAINE Borough Council is seeking clarification on legislation allowing the removal of graffiti from private property, in an attempt to determine a future policy on the issue. At this month’s meeting of the council’s Leisure and Environment committee, the Director of Technical Services, Dessie Wreath, outlined the legislative issues surrounding the removal of graffiti from private walls. He said that Article 18 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)(NI) Order 1985 appeared to give a discretionary power to councils to remove graffiti or issue a notice to the owner requiring the removal of it within 14 days. He added that if the owner failed to carry out this work within 14 days, the legislation suggested that council could carry out the work and recoup the costs from the owner of the property. Mr Wreath said that a survey had been carried out in Coleraine, Portstewart, Portrush, Kilrea and Garvagh, to identify the areas where major examples of graffiti were present. He concluded by saying that when final clarification on this legislation was received, the council would contact the owners of properties in question or, if needed, seek voluntary assistance in the removal of the graffiti. SYMBOLS Alderman Billy Leonard welcomed the progress made by the council and said he hoped they could send out the message that threats, references and symbols are not acceptable in the borough. Councillor David Barbour seconded this, although he added that there were examples in other council areas where art had been drawn on walls and should be seen as an exception. Deputy Mayor, Eamon Mullan, asked Mr Wreath if this legislation would apply to graffiti on roads and other areas where government bodies were the ‘owners’. Mr Wreath replied by saying that council had no power to tell a government body, such as the Roads Service, to remove graffiti and that the onus was strictly on them to do so. Councillor Mullan said that some graffiti on roads was even worse than that which could be seen on walls, and that someone should oversee and accept responsibility for its removal. Councillor John Dallat concluded the discussion by saying that the council owed a ‘duty of care’ to all communities, especially working class areas, to ensure the removal of graffiti. “If the same type of graffiti appeared in middle class areas, it would be removed immediately,” said councillor Dallat. “I feel sorry for children growing up in neighbourhoods that have so much graffiti - especially paramilitary graffiti. “We have to strive for the day that all communities are treated equally and are without graffiti that creates the wrong impression of people in those areas.”

Sport
Laganside Intermediate Championships.
	Laganside’s Ciara Barnes is pictured with Ballymoney boxer Jonathan Shields accepting his trophy along with his opponent and winner of the competition Shane McGuikian. The pair recently took part in the Laganside Intermediate Championships.
Limavady get the ‘Wright’ man
Limavady United are looking to the future, after some troubled times, by appointing former Northern Ireland keeper Tommy Wright as their new manager. Limavady have been struggling recently with unity in the club after the surprise sacking of Eddie Seydak. Club chairman, Eric Morrison, admitted that Seydak had done a fantastic job in the past for Limavady but after a poor start to the season he felt it was time for a change. The desicion to dismiss Seydak was not accepted by some key players who let their feelings known by striking ahead of the Lisburn Distillery match last Saturday. “The strike was obviously a bid to force our hands but we had made our decision and that was that” commented Morrison. The strike took place without the knowledge that Wright was coming in to take over from Seydak and the chairman hopes that his appointment will ease some of the players minds. “Tommy’s got a wealth of experience in football and the players can only benefit from this.” “He has 31 Northern Ireland caps, three of which were as captain, so it’s clear the man is a good leader.” “He’s a great personality and is just what the club needs.” Wright is a fully qualified IFA coach, who had up to this point been employed as Youth Development Officer at Ballyclare Comrades, a position he stepped down from in order to take the helm at Limavady. “I was absolutely delighted to take the job and am very much looking forward to meeting the players and getting started,” remerked the new manager. “I’m under no illusion that it’s going to be an easy task but my aim is to not only avoid relegation but to take this club further up the table to respectablity.” Tommy’s first task will be to settle the players when he meets them for the first time on Thursday night. “There’s obviously nothing I could have done with the strike, but hopefully it has been resolved and we can get on with playing football.” “This Saturday we are at home to Cruesaders and I will be guided by my assistants Jackie and Liam over team selection.” “But it’s a home game, and one we will have to pick up maximum points” concluded Wright.