NEWS

A meeting is due to take place this week between Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s chief executive, Richard Baker, and his counterpart at Bryson Recycling over missed bin collections across the borough. Councillors were told at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee, held at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, that service issues will be discussed on Wednesday, ahead of a further meeting with members in the council chamber later this month. Airport Sinn Fé

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick is joined by Chris Ward (Workforce Training Services) and Jessica Smyth (LMP) to launch the SIA Academy A new bespoke Employment Academy has been launched in Antrim and Newtownabbey to address skills shortages in the security industry and help local residents take their first steps into sustainable employment. The week-long intensive programme, delivered by the Antrim and Newtownabbey Labour Market Partnership (LMP

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has entered into a debate over which household recycling system works best, after the issue was raised at a meeting of a neighbouring council. Speaking in the council chamber at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, Antrim DUP councillor Paul Dunlop highlighted the differing approaches taken by local authorities. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has recently completed the roll-out of a triple-stacked wheelie box system to 25,000 house

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough councillors are demanding a meeting with contractor Bryson Recycling following complaints from residents about missed bin collections. Members were given an update on the roll-out of the council’s triple-stack wheelie box bins in the Antrim area at a meeting of the local authority at Mossley Mill on Monday evening. A council director said the roll-out had been completed “within schedule and on budget” to more than 25,000 households, with “mini

CEO of Women’s Aid ABCLN, Gillian Creevey welcomes the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Director of Community Development, Ursula Fay to the Women’s Refuge to receive the pyjama appeal donations More than 400 pairs of pyjamas have been donated to this year’s Women’s Aid Christmas Pyjama Appeal, bringing warmth, comfort and a sense of normality to children and families affected by domestic abuse across the Antrim and Newtownabbey borough. The a

Planning permission has been granted for the partial demolition of Castle Mall in Antrim and the development of new social housing on the site. The proposal, which will see the construction of 39 dwellings in the town centre, was approved at a meeting of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Planning Committee at Mossley Mill on Monday evening, December 8. The new development, to be delivered for Choice Housing, will comprise one detached house, 14 terrace homes and 24 ap

The spa at Antrim Forum An additional charge to use the spa at Antrim Forum leisure centre has been approved by councillors. Members of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Operations Committee agreed at a meeting in Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening to introduce a £10 “bolt-on” charge per person for use of the facility. A report to the committee stated: “The introduction of a £10 per person spa bolt-on at Antrim Forum reflects the facility’s status as a premium, lu

Antrim Castle Gardens successfully launched its inaugural "Evening of Inclusive Enchantment" this week, offering a serene and supportive environment for adults and children with additional needs to experience the popular festive event, the Enchanted Winter Garden. The historic gardens, located in Antrim, Northern Ireland, sparkled on Thursday, 4th December, as they welcomed families for a special night designed to ensure the magic of Christmas was accessible to all. The initi

A photo shared on social media by a resident Missed bin collections in Antrim and Newtownabbey will be discussed behind closed doors at a full meeting of the borough council after “service issues” were blamed on continuing crew absenteeism. The issue was highlighted at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening. Lynsey Daly, head of waste strategy and sustainability , insisted that missed collections were due to absenteeism amon

The interim chief executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has defended the authority’s decision to move to blue mixed-recycling bins in Ballymena and Carrickfergus from 2026/27, despite neighbouring Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council phasing out the very same system. Speaking during Monday night’s full council meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Valerie Watts responded to a public question which asked: “Who is right – Antrim council getting rid of blue bins or B

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

Lough Neagh, County Antrim Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Economic Development Committee has deferred a decision on acting as a site host for The Gateway Project, a new initiative developed to support early detection of blue-green algae bloom in Lough Neagh. A report was presented to a meeting of the committee at Mossley Mill, Newtownabbey, on Tuesday evening. Members were told that Helix8 Ltd, a Larne-based technology company, has secured funding under the Belfast

Glengormley Cenotaph Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has unanimously condemned the recent desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph, describing the incident as an attack on remembrance and community respect. The motion, proposed by Councillor Robert Foster (UUP) and seconded by Alderman Mark Cosgrove (UUP) , was passed at the Full Council meeting on Monday 27 October 2025. It stated: “That this chamber condemns the desecration of the Glengormley Cenotaph and calls upon

The Joyce on display Loughshore Park, Antrim Antrim and Newtownabbey councillors have agreed to work with a group of veterans to help maintain a historic wartime boat that has been returned to the borough. The Joyce — a 40-foot torpedo retrieval vessel which operated on Lough Neagh during the Second World War — is now on display beside The Gateway Visitor Centre at Antrim’s Lough Shore. The restored craft was unveiled earlier this year as part of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borou

Residents across Antrim and Newtownabbey are being invited to celebrate the start of the festive season at one of seven magical Christmas Light Switch On events taking place throughout the Borough from 20–29 November 2025. Each event promises festive entertainment, family fun, and a dazzling light display, creating an unforgettable experience for residents and visitors alike. The celebrations will kick off in Crumlin on Thursday 20 November at the Crumlin Leisure Centre from

New dog control orders will come into effect across Antrim and Newtownabbey from 1 January, extending restrictions to include several of the borough’s most popular visitor attractions. At a meeting of the Operations Committee held at Antrim Civic Centre on Monday evening, councillors agreed that dogs must be kept on leads in the Platinum Jubilee Garden area of Antrim Castle Gardens , and in the Coronation Garden at Hazelbank Park, Newtownabbey. Dogs will also be required to r

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick looks forward to the opening of Enchanted Winter Garden for 2025. Antrim Castle Gardens will once again transform into a festive wonderland this winter as the Enchanted Winter Garden returns from Friday 28 November to Tuesday 30 December 2025 — with even more magic, light and family fun than ever before. Presented by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, this year’s event promises to be the most spectacular

Pictured are, from left, Dr Norman Apsley OBE, LEDCOM Chairman, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick and Ken...

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ulster...

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council has responded to a Food Standards Agency (FSA) consultation on how to deal with the sale of ...