NEWS

Kilrea Bridge UUP councillor Richard Holmes has expressed concern that responsibility for supporting local businesses affected by the closure of Kilrea Bridge is “being passed around like a grenade” among government departments. In late September, the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) announced the bridge’s closure due to concerns about the structural stability of a retaining wall on the approach to the structure. DfI has since said it is working with a specialist contrac

A vehicle checkpoint at Shaws Bridge in Belfast at the winter anti drink and drug campaign launch The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has issued a stark warning to motorists as it launches its winter anti–drink and drug driving campaign, urging drivers to “make good choices” amid rising concern about impaired driving across the region. The annual operation, announced in Belfast today (Tuesday 2 December), will see intensified roadside testing, coordinated cross-bor

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins is pictured with CEO of Gaist Steve Birdsall as she launches a new Road Maintenance Strategy for consultation. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has unveiled a major shift in how Northern Ireland’s road network will be maintained in the years ahead, with technology and data-driven decision-making placed at the centre of a newly published draft Road Maintenance Strategy. The strategy, now open for public consultation, sets out a long-term

Coca-Cola Ireland has launched its 2025 Designated Driver campaign, celebrating an impressive 17 years of encouraging responsible choices and supporting the hospitality sector during the festive period. The initiative, which launched yesterday on 1 December, once again offers two complimentary Coca-Cola soft drinks — including Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Original Taste — to anyone acting as the designated driver at participating venues across the island of Ireland. The

Translink is encouraging Christmas shoppers across Northern Ireland to take the stress out of festive travel this year by taking full advantage of its extensive Park and Ride network. As thousands head into towns and city centres for shopping, dining and seasonal events, the transport operator says its Park and Ride sites provide a simple, affordable and congestion-free alternative to battling heavy traffic in the run-up to Christmas. Many sites will operate extended timetabl

A large majority of UK motorists want to see alcohol interlocks – also known as ‘alcolocks’ – introduced to crack down on drink-driving, according to new figures from the RAC. The motoring organisation’s latest Report on Motoring found 82% of drivers support fitting alcohol interlocks to prevent repeat drink-driving. Only 7% of respondents opposed the idea, while 12% remained unsure. Alcohol interlocks are already widely used in countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, A

Work taking place on the Glenshesk Road, Ballycastle over the last months following a landslide. (Image: Anne Kelly) Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has confirmed that the Glenshesk Road in Ballycastle will reopen to traffic by 5pm on Monday 1 December, marking a significant milestone after months of disruption caused by severe weather damage. The route, which has been partially closed between Glenbank Road and Greenan Road since last year, suffered a serious embankment f

Ryanair has announced it will add more than 4,900 extra seats to and from Belfast for Christmas week 2025, as the carrier prepares for a surge in festive travel demand. The airline – Europe’s largest by passenger numbers – confirmed on Tuesday (25 November) that it expects to carry over 26,000 passengers through Belfast Airport during the busy holiday period, helping people return home in time to celebrate with their families. The additional seats have been introduced in resp

Police officers across Northern Ireland seized 58 uninsured vehicles in a week-long enforcement operation targeting illegal drivers, as part of the UK-wide Op Drive Insured campaign. The initiative, which ran from 10 to 16 November and is supported by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB), aimed to remove uninsured drivers from the roads and highlight the financial and safety risks associated with motoring without appropriate cover. Superintendent Jonathan Wilson said the operatio

Police in Ballymoney have issued a fresh warning to motorists after an uninsured vehicle was taken off the road, leaving both the driver and the owner with a combined 12 penalty points and £410 in fines. Officers from the Ballymoney and Moyle Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) stopped the car earlier today as part of ongoing road safety checks. During the stop, police established that the person behind the wheel had no valid insurance to drive the vehicle — and the owner, who

Pictured at the launch of the new anti-drug driving campaign are (L to R) Judith Andrews, DfI and Chair of the Road Safety Strategic Forum, Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, PSNI.  Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has unveiled a hard-hitting new advertising campaign after initial roadside testing data revealed that nearly 50% of drivers checked for drugs were positive for cannabis and/or cocaine. The stark figure comes from a 12-month

Two people have died following a serious road traffic collision in Glenavy, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed. The fatal crash occurred on Saturday, 22nd November, shortly after 6.25pm on the Lurgan Road. Emergency services were called to the scene following reports of a collision involving a grey Skoda Fabia and a grey Cupra Formentor. Chief Inspector Simpson of the PSNI’s Collision Investigation Unit said: “Shortly after 6.25pm, we received a report of a

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have been asked to consider suspending car parking charges on Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to boost town centre trade. In 2020, the council approved free parking at Market Square Car Park in Ballyclare on each Saturday during December. The local authority is now seeking to extend this initiative by offering free parking on every Saturday this December at all council-owned car parks in the borough where charges currently app

A man has died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision on Windyhill Road, between Limavady and Coleraine, on Thursday 20 November, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed. The incident, which occurred shortly after 9.45am, involved a lorry and a white Peugeot Partner van. Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson, from the Collision Investigation Unit , said: “Police received a report shortly after 9.45am, on Thursday morning, of a collision involving a lorry

The Met Office has issued a further tellow weather warning for snow and ice across all six counties of Northern Ireland as wintry showers are expected to intensify from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. The alert will be in place from 17:00 on Wednesday 19 November 2025 until 12:00 on Thursday 20 November 2025, covering County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone. Forecasters warn that the combination of falling te

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has assured the public that Northern Ireland’s winter service teams are fully prepared as the first significant cold spell of the season approaches. A Met Office yellow weather warning is in place from midnight tonight until 12pm tomorrow, with forecasters predicting wintry showers, icy patches, and the possibility of lying snow on higher ground. The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirmed that extensive preparations have been complet

Police have arrested a man following a reported hit-and-run collision in Coleraine on Sunday, 16 November, which left a motorcyclist injured. Officers said the incident occurred in the Willowfield Park area, where a man in his 50s, who had been riding a motorcycle, was struck by a grey Audi car. He was taken to hospital for treatment to injuries to his leg and arm. A woman at the scene attempted to intervene when the collision happened, signalling for the driver to stop and p

The Met Office has issued a Yellow weather warning for snow and ice across all six counties of Northern Ireland, with forecasters cautioning of “wintry showers on Tuesday night into Wednesday” that “will bring some icy patches and lying snow in places, leading to possible travel delays.” The warning is in force from 00:00 to 12:00 on Wednesday 19 November 2025, affecting County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry and County Tyrone. Accor

DUP North Antrim MLA Paul Frew, and Councillor Reuben Glover at the junction of Dans Road and Galgorm Road DUP MLA Paul Frew has urged authorities to act swiftly to address what he describes as the “much higher than would be expected” number of road traffic accidents on a key stretch of the Galgorm Road in Ballymena. Mr Frew and Alderman Reuben Glover have been approached by numerous concerned residents regarding safety issues on the section between Cambridge Avenue and the D

With the much-anticipated opening of Primark expected to draw significantly higher footfall, Fairhill Shopping Centre Management has announced the introduction of a new pay-on-arrival parking option to help ease congestion during the busy period. In a message to customers, management said they had been “reviewing the parking system and have added the option of paying on arrival when you park at the Centre”. The change, they explained, aims “ to help reduce queues at payment