Monthly Archives: March 2016

A local MLA has spoken out about the state of roads in East Antrim and inadequate repair carried out on potholes. Roy Beggs said, “In recent months I have noticed an increasing number of potholes, particularly on rural roads. More and more constituents are contacting me regarding dangerous potholes in our roads. “It appears to me that only the more severe potholes, on busier routes. are being repaired in a timely fashion. “Hannas Road, just above Larne is in very poor condition with a huge void that you might expect to find on hill track, not a public road.” The Ulster Unionist MLA added: “Local residents have advised me that they are concerned at the delay in repairing the significant void in Hannas Road, Larne which services several businesses. They have indicated that several claims for vehicle damage have had to be submitted to Transport NI. They are concerned that … Continue reading →

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 →

A new Islandmagee primary school is a step closer after the Education Minister included it in a “tranche of major capital projects.” Kilcoan Primary and Mullaghdubh Primary are set to effectively merge into a single controlled school, operating across both sites, from September 1, 2016. The schools are currently operating out of buildings which are approximately three miles apart, and are also over 100 years old. Despite the North Eastern Education and Library Board first putting forward the plan for a new school in 2004, the project has not yet been realised. Today, Education Minister John O’Dowd told the Assembly that the new build Islandmagee school will be one of ten included in a “further tranche of major capital projects.” “While the construction work on these projects will not take place for several years, it is important that we continue to plan and complete the design work to ensure that … Continue reading →

A new Islandmagee primary school is a step closer after the Education Minister included it in a “tranche of major capital projects.” Kilcoan Primary and Mullaghdubh Primary are set to effectively merge into a single controlled school, operating across both sites, from September 1, 2016. The schools are currently operating out of buildings which are approximately three miles apart, and are also over 100 years old. Despite the North Eastern Education and Library Board first putting forward the plan for a new school in 2004, the project has not yet been realised. Today, Education Minister John O’Dowd told the Assembly that the new build Islandmagee school will be one of ten included in a “further tranche of major capital projects.” “While the construction work on these projects will not take place for several years, it is important that we continue to plan and complete the design work to ensure that … Continue reading →