Monthly Archives: January 2016

The Department for Regional Development is being urged to help reduce anti-social behaviour by selling off vacant property on part of the A2. The appeal from East Antrim Ulster MLA Roy Beggs follows a fire at an empty dwelling along the route last month. Mr Beggs wrote to Regional Development Minister Michelle McIlveen in the aftermath of the incident calling on the department to release land and 17 houses on the Shore Road for sale. He pointed out that the suspected arson attack on December 20 resulted in closure of the A2 carriageway owing to levels of smoke. He continued: “The property has been described as one of the ‘abandoned’ properties beside the A2. “Can you please confirm if this property was one of the properties vested as part of the A2 road widening scheme and whether or not it remained in public ownership? “Can you please also confirm whether … Continue reading →

East Antrim Ulster Unionist Party MLA Roy Beggs Jr has hit out at ‘unnacceptable’ waiting times in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area for first time consultant-led outpatient appointments. The figures were revealed as the result of a UUP question to the Health Minister at Stormont. Mr Beggs MLA said: “Figures provided by the Health Minister show that as of September 10 2015, there were nearly 4,000 people waiting over 18 weeks for their first consultant-led outpatient appointment at Antrim. “This figure has jumped around 900 per cent in two years from 372. “Whiteabbey has also increased from 151 in 2013 to 2159 in 2015. “This sharp increase is unacceptable and adds to delays in necessary treatment. “As a result, patients and their families suffer and this also emergency visits to our already overstretched AEs.” Mr Beggs added that East Antrim residents are “heavily reliant on Belfast hospitals … Continue reading →

The company said the loss-making route will be brought to an end with immediate effect, following a “comprehensive review of its options”. However it added that full Larne to Cairnryan route services will continue to operate “throughout 2016 and into the future”. In a statement on Wednesday morning, PO Ferries said there will be no redundancies with the closure of the Larne to Troon service, with all permanent staff being found alternative roles within the company. The company added: “PO Ferries has proudly operated this additional seasonal route since 2003, but the stark reality is that the company is continuing to make significant losses, and sadly the income from ticket sales is not sufficient to cover the annual vessel and port operating costs. “Given the other negative developments in the borough, with factory closures looming in Ballymena, this is especially worrying.” Billy Ashe “In a final attempt to make the … Continue reading →