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Stranraer praised by Minister Frank McAveety

BELMONT and Ochtrelure in Stranraer has been praised by Local Government Minister Frank McAveety following his visit on Friday.

Mr McAveety said he was very impressed with the community and in particular Belmont Primary School.

He was in Stranraer to officially open the Safer Route to School project in the area and to look at the various projects and initiatives in and around the school.

He also visited the flats in the Belmont area to hear first hand residents' problems.

Mr McAveety said "I was highly impressed with the way the community of Belmont and Ochtrelure seem to be working together with the local authority to make full use of the resources.

"The Belmont/Ochtrelure initiative, working with the community council, the school board, PTA and the council obviously put a great deal of thought into what they wanted right through to the design and lay-out of the traffic calming measures.

"I am keen to have maximum community involvement and am delighted to see the results of the bottom up approach with full community participation". Mr McAveety cut a ribbon on the Safer Route in Ochtrelure Way before unveiling a plaque in the school to mark his visit.

He was then shown around the school by headteacher Bill Burns and school board chairman Sam Scobie.