Councillors opt for plane

COUNCIL representatives attending a conference in Belfast are to travel by plane - after more environmentally-friendly alternatives were judged to be too expensive.

The Cities of the Isles Conference is to be held in Belfast on October 18-19. The council had considered sending a councillor and official to the event using rail and ferry. However, it was found that it would mean having to fund two extra nights of accommodation.

Councillor Tom Buchanan said: "You have got to balance the most environmentally sensible travel with the fact that you would add two night's accommodation and food to the bill."

The cost of attendance is estimated at 250 per person.