NEWS

Ulster Unionist Infrastructure Spokesperson John Stewart MLA has called on Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins to take urgent action following widespread disruption caused by snow and ice across Northern Ireland last week. Mr Stewart has confirmed that, at his request, the Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee has agreed to write formally to the Minister, seeking answers over the handling of winter services during the recent spell of severe weather. The cold snap led to signif

Castle Street 3 car park, Ballymena CCTV has been installed at a Ballymena town centre car park following a series of reports of antisocial behaviour, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed. The Church Street 3 car park, which can be accessed from both Castle Street and the Larne Road Link, has become a regular meeting point for young drivers during night-time hours. While the area is commonly used for parking, concerns have been raised due to its close proximity t

Work has officially begun on a long-awaited new Park and Ride facility at Ballymena Bus and Train Station, marking a significant milestone in a campaign that has spanned more than a decade. The North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew has welcomed confirmation from Translink that construction is now underway on a 387-space Park and Ride expansion, an issue he says he has been actively pursuing since 2013. Speaking following the announcement, Mr Frew said: “I am delighted that Translin

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Ben-my-Chree vessel The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company has announced a significantly enhanced ferry timetable for 2026/27, strengthening maritime connections between Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man and opening up new opportunities for passengers, freight operators and businesses on both sides of the Irish Sea. The new three-vessel schedule, which is now on sale, marks the first time in more than 15 years that the Isle of Man has o

The Met Office has issued successive yellow weather warnings for strong winds across Northern Ireland, warning of potential disruption from Sunday through into Monday. The first warning is in force from 00:00 until 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January 2026 , and covers County Antrim, County Down, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. A second warning follows immediately afterwards, running from 21:00 on Sunday, 11 January, until 12:00 on Monday, 12 January 2026 , and applies to County

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain affecting Northern Ireland, with the potential for localised flooding as heavy rainfall combines with milder temperatures and melting snow. The warning is in effect from 9.00pm on Saturday 10 January until 9.00pm on Sunday 11 January , covering the entire region. According to the Met Office, bands of rain will move across Northern Ireland during Saturday evening and throughout Sunday, bringing the risk of flooding in

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with icy conditions expected to develop overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. The warning is in force from 5pm on Friday 9 January until 11am on Saturday 10 January , covering much of the region during a period when temperatures are forecast to drop sharply below freezing. Forecasters say clear spells on Friday evening and overnight will allow temperatures to fall quickly, leading to the

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice covering all of Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected overnight and into Friday morning. The warning will be in effect from 12.00am until 11.00am on Friday, 9 January 2026 , as temperatures fall and wintry showers create icy patches on roads and pavements. According to the Met Office, “clearing skies and scattered wintry showers” are expected to develop through the night, increasing the risk of ice, p

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has called for a new bridge in Kilrea in the wake of the prolonged closure of the village’s Bann bridge. At January’s full council meeting, members approved a cross-party motion proposed by UUP councillor Richard Holmes and seconded by Sinn Féin councillor Sean Bateson and DUP alderman Michelle Knight-McQuillan . The motion stated: “This council notes the recent closure of Kilrea’s Bann Bridge due to maintenance issues and the detri

South Antrim MP Robin Swann has called on the Infrastructure Minister to review the Department for Infrastructure’s (DfI) Roads policy on grit provision, warning that the current approach risks undermining community efforts to improve safety during winter weather. The intervention follows recent snow and icy conditions, during which many communities relied heavily on grit to help keep roads and footways passable. Mr Swann said residents have expressed a willingness to take p

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has paid tribute to road gritting teams for their efforts in keeping Northern Ireland’s main routes safe during the Christmas period and the current spell of severe winter weather. Gritting crews have been operating throughout the festive season and during an ongoing cold snap that has brought heavy snowfall to parts of the Northern Ireland, placing increased pressure on road services and frontline staff.

Severe winter weather has placed intense pressure on road services across North Antrim, with local MLAs raising concerns over grit shortages, untreated roads and the Department for Infrastructure’s preparedness following heavy snowfall. Large parts of rural North Antrim have been affected by snowfall of between six and eight inches over the past two days, leaving some roads difficult to access and heightening safety concerns for residents, commuters and emergency services. TU

A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall and wintry showers move across the region. The warning is in force between 6:00pm on Tuesday 6 January 2026 and 11:00am on Wednesday 7 January 2026, with icy patches likely to form on untreated surfaces, increasing the risk of travel disruption. Forecasters say that after a day that has been less cold than recent days, conditions

Icicles in the Glens of Antrim. (Image Liz Weir) A yellow weather warning for ice has been issued for Northern Ireland, with hazardous conditions expected to develop from Monday evening through to Tuesday morning, raising concerns for commuters, motorists and pedestrians. The warning is effective from 5pm on Monday 5 January 2026 until 10am on Tuesday 6 January 2026, according to the Met Office. Forecasters say ice formation on untreated surfaces is likely to cause impacts in

The Met Office has issued two consecutive yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, warning that prolonged wintry conditions could lead to travel disruption from Friday afternoon through the weekend and into Monday morning. The first warning is in effect from 3:00pm on Friday 2 January 2026 until 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January 2026 , with a second warning following immediately from 12:00pm on Saturday 3 January until 12:00pm on Monday 5 January 2026. Fo

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has urged the public to make road safety a priority in 2026 following the release of provisional figures showing that 57 people lost their lives on Northern Ireland’s roads in 2025. The latest data, published by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), highlights a decrease on the 69 fatalities recorded in 2024 and the 71 deaths in 2023. However, the figures also reveal deeply concerning trends involving vulnerable road users, particu

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice across Northern Ireland, with motorists and early-morning commuters urged to take extra care due to the risk of icy conditions and possible travel disruption. The warning is in effect from 00:00 until 10:00 on Friday, 2 January 2026, and covers all six counties of the province — Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. According to the Met Office, the warning follows a spell of rain, sleet and

As the festive season draws to a close, residents in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland are being advised to prepare for a sharp drop in temperatures and the possibility of wintry weather in the coming days. According to the latest forecasts from the UK Met Office, the week from Monday 29 December 2025 to Monday 5 January 2026 will bring predominantly cold and dry conditions at first, transitioning to more unsettled patterns with a risk of snow toward the latter part of th

Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson, from the PSNI’s Operational Support Department Preliminary figures released by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) show that 129 people were arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving during the first 15 days of December, prompting renewed warnings about the potentially fatal consequences of getting behind the wheel under the influence. The figures, covering the period 1–15 December, are provisional and subject to change. Howe

More than £30 million in additional funding has been allocated to improve roads across Northern Ireland, with £4 million specifically targeted at the rural road network, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has announced. The new funding package, secured through the December Monitoring process, will support an expanded programme of road improvement works aimed at addressing longstanding maintenance challenges and improving safety for road users across both urban and rural area