Banbridge DUP

14/08/2026

Latest Update!!!!

Next week the service will be available on Monday 24th Tuesday 25th Thursday 27th August.
On all operating days the department will be open from 9am-4.30pm closed for lunch 1pm-1.45pm

We will keep pushing for the full operation of this service!!

Dodds demands urgent action over Banbridge X-ray service closure!

Diane Dodds MLA has criticised the closure of the X-ray service at Banbridge Health Care Centre, warning that patients and staff cannot be left to carry the consequences of ongoing workforce failures.
Diane Dodds MLA said:
“The continued closure of the X-ray service at Banbridge Health Care Centre is completely unacceptable and will understandably cause frustration and concern for patients across the area.
This situation makes a mockery of the Health Ministers declared Neighbour Model to deliver services closure to home.
I recognise the pressures facing the Trust, including long-term sickness absence and vacancies, but patients should not be expected to pay the price for a failure to maintain safe and sustainable staffing levels.
Banbridge is a growing community, and people rightly expect local access to essential diagnostic services. They should not be routinely inconvenienced, redirected elsewhere or left wondering when a service they depend upon will return.
I am particularly concerned that this is not an isolated incident, with the Trust confirming that the service has experienced a number of recent closures. That cannot become the new normal.
The Trust says recruitment is underway, with interviews due to take place at the end of this month. That is welcome, but patients need more than assurances they need action and a clear timetable for the restoration of the service.
I am calling on the Trust to do everything within its power to fill these vacancies as quickly as possible and to provide a clear update on when the Banbridge X-ray service will be fully operational again.
Our local health services must be protected. Banbridge residents deserve access to timely diagnostic services close to home, and I will continue to press for answers until this service is restored.”

12/08/2026

So who's to blame for the "wheels coming off" the A5 road project. According to Sinn Fein it's the Plantation of Ulster......

It's almost as if they were trying to back up the point being made by Phillip Brett who was writing in the News Letter this morning that Sinn Fein need to stop blaming everyone else for its own failures and instead take responsibility. (Link in comments)

Can't wait to see who they try to blame next!...... 🫣

06/08/2026

Need for unreserved apology for hurt done to victims – Dodds

Upper Bann MLA Diane Dodds has condemned reports that music associated with glorifying the IRA was played by a food trader, who operates a branch in Banbridge, at the Fleadh in Belfast, saying the incident has caused deep hurt to victims and their families.

Diane Dodds said:

“There is no underestimating the hurt these songs cause to innocent victims of IRA terrorism. There should be a full, unreserved and fulsome apology given to victims' families particularly in Banbridge, a town that knows all too well the devastating impact of IRA violence.

The issue isn’t simply one song, it’s the creeping normalisation of celebrating a terrorist campaign that left devastation across Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein’s refusal to unequivocally condemn the playing of pro-IRA songs at events has only added to the hurt felt by victims and their families and sends entirely the wrong message.

Banbridge remembers the bombs. Victims remember the funerals. Those memories deserve a clear and unequivocal rejection of the glorification of terrorism with no ifs, buts or equivocation.”

27/07/2026

12/07/2026

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝘁𝗵......

Whether you're walking or watching, enjoy the next couple of days.

11/07/2026

First the shirt. 
Now the flag.
What is it about Linfield that provokes such intolerance from the Alliance Party?

04/07/2026

🇺🇸USA250🇬🇧
Today we join with millions across the world in marking the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.

The story of America cannot be told without recognising 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 in search of opportunity and helped shape a nation. From the founding generation through to public service, business, industry and community life, the 𝗨𝗹𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀.

The enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States continues to be built upon our shared history, democratic traditions and commitment to freedom.

As we celebrate this historic milestone, we also recognise the lasting bonds of family, culture and friendship that continue to connect Ulster and America.

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝟮𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮! 🇺🇸

01/07/2026

"𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲."

Today, we remember the extraordinary courage, sacrifice and service of all those who fought at the Battle of the Somme.

Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Lest We Forget.

30/06/2026

👮‍♀️ Recently I met with the senior officers from the PSNI along with party colleagues to discuss the policing operation in Scarva on 6th June.

Many will know our view on the day was that the policing operation was heavy handed. There are many lessons to be learnt from this, most pressingly the need for the police to engage with local representatives in advance and on the day of any future marches of a highly political nature.

There were numerous breaches of the Parades Commission determination by those participating and I look forward to the police being as proactive dealing with these, as they seemed to want to be with protesters on the day.

I want to thank all those Unionist colleagues who stood shoulder to shoulder in Scarva, and ensured along with community representatives that the day passed of peacefully.

I have been personally vilified and abused for my presence in Scarva on that day. Police at the meeting commended both myself, and my party colleagues for the efforts to calm tensions and helping to ensure the day passed off without major incident. We look forward to that being clarified publicly in due course. I have no doubt the apologies will roll in from the armchair generals, Sorcha, the Justice Minister, Claire Hanna, Matthew O’Toole and and and …. Leadership is turning up and standing with the community when it is needed.

greenfield
Ian Wilson
Alderman Mark Baxter
McClelland