NEWS

Pictured at The Ecos Hub are: (l-r): Dwain Steele of Hampton Conservatories; Paul Blahyj of Toyota Lean Management Centre; David Greer, Operational Excellence Manager at Invest Northern Ireland; Simon McKee, Operational Excellence Coach, Invest NI; Mark Hutchinson, CEO of Hutchinson Engineering; Ryan Black, Director of Growth and Major Projects at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; David Watson, Chair of the MTF Network and Julian Ball of the Toyota Lean Management Centre.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon launched the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Performance Improvement Plan 2026/27 Recycling performance has fallen, town centres are perceived to be in decline and almost half of households across Mid and East Antrim are affected by long-term health conditions or disabilities. Those are among the challenges identified by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council as it unveiled a year-ahead improvement plan that includes a maj

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has raised concerns over the potential cost of proposed animal welfare changes that could require pet cats to be microchipped. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is carrying out a public consultation on a series of proposed reforms to animal welfare policy in Northern Ireland. The department is seeking views on measures including increased dog licence fees, the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisation

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon is pictured with Breige Mulholland, Head of Finance and Operations at Air Ambulance NI and Samantha Booysen, Director of Operations at Rural Support from the two charities he has chosen to support during his term in office. Mid and East Antrim’s new Mayor has pledged to use his year in office to support two charities that provide critical help to people facing some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Alderman To

DUP Bannside Councillor Tyler Hoey A proposal inspired by a Ballymena child who became overwhelmed before attending a community event is set to bring sensory support boxes into council buildings across Mid and East Antrim after receiving unanimous backing from local councillors. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council voted in favour of a motion brought forward by DUP Councillor Tyler Hoey during a meeting at The Braid on Monday, June 8, paving the way for officers to examine the

Views over Tullygarley bridge looking down the River Braid to the application site Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Planning Committee has approved an outline application for 28 dwellings at Dunluce Park, Ballymena, despite 53 letters of objection and a petition containing almost 1,000 signatures. The application was given the go-ahead at a meeting of the committee in The Braid, Ballymena, on Thursday morning. A planning officer told the committee the outline application

The Moravian Church in Gracehill, Ballymena A major new cross-border initiative centred on Gracehill World Heritage Site is set to connect 14 UNESCO-designated locations across the island of Ireland, creating new opportunities for education, community engagement, tourism and peacebuilding while placing the historic Ballymena village at the heart of an ambitious all-Ireland heritage network. The project, known as UNESCO Together, has secured €93,000 through the PEACEPLUS Chang

One of Ballymena’s most important sporting venues is set for a major transformation after plans for a new high-performance 3G hybrid pitch at Ballymena Showgrounds were approved on Thursday. The project will replace the existing natural grass surface in the main arena with a modern all-weather system designed to significantly increase year-round usage, reduce weather-related disruption and create greater opportunities for clubs, schools and community groups across the borough

Views across Tullygarley bridge toward the proposed housing development site near the River Braid Planning officers have recommended approval for a controversial housing development beside Ballymena’s Braid River Walk despite months of fierce opposition from residents, environmental concerns and a petition backed by hundreds of people. The proposal, which has triggered one of the most emotionally charged local planning disputes in Ballymena in recent years, would see 28 new h

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured at the unveiling of the UNESCO plaque at Gracehill along with (L-R) Sarah Groves, former Bishop of Gracehill Moravian Church, outgoing Deputy Mayor, Councillor Tyler Hoey, outgoing Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, Alderman William McCaughey, Alderman Thomas Gordon, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant Mr David McCorkell and Chair of Gracehill Old School Trust, Dr David Johnston OBE. Northern Ireland’s first cultu

A planning application has been submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council for a proposed children’s go-kart fun ride area at Carnfunnock Country Park, outside Larne. The application was lodged by an agent on behalf of Ian and Christopher Lough, operators of Carnfunnock Family Fun Zone, which operates independently within the country park grounds. Ian said the proposal, currently under consideration by the council’s planning department, would be situated beside the exis

Female scientists will step out of laboratories and into the heart of Ballymena later this month as a major public STEM event lands in the town for the first time. Soapbox Science, a free live science event designed to make research accessible, engaging and visible, is coming to the People’s Park on Friday 12 June from 11am to 2pm. The event — the first of its kind to be hosted in Mid and East Antrim — will see female researchers take to literal soapboxes to explain their wor

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Thomas Gordon Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has appointed a new mayor and deputy mayor for the year ahead, with Bannside DUP Alderman Thomas Gordon taking on the borough’s top civic role and Carrick Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris named as deputy mayor. The appointments were confirmed during the council’s Annual Meeting at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening, June 1, marking the beginning of a new civic

Bannside DUP Alderman Tom Gordon and Carrickfergus Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris The mayoral role in Mid and East Antrim will return to the DUP at the borough council’s annual general meeting taking place this evening (Monday, June 1) at The Braid in Ballymena. The borough’s new first citizen is expected to be Bannside Alderman Tom Gordon. The incoming deputy mayor is expected to be Carrickfergus Castle Ulster Unionist Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferri

At the launch of the new Chatty Bench at Devenagh Way, Ballymena: Mid & East Antrim Mayor Jackson Minford; Councillor Brian Thompson; Roy McClean, Housing Executive; Marjorie Hawkins, Chair of the Loneliness Network; Councillor Bréanainn Lyness; with some local residents. Two new ‘Chatty Benches’ have been installed in Ballymena as part of an ongoing effort to tackle loneliness and social isolation across Mid and East Antrim. The latest benches — located at The Rectory Estat

Children and young people with complex disabilities across Mid and East Antrim could benefit from new summer activities and support programmes after the council launched a dedicated funding scheme aimed at creating more inclusive opportunities during the school holidays. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has unveiled its first-ever Inclusive Summer Opportunities Grant Funding Scheme, with £12,000 available to help local organisations deliver free and accessible activities t

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, and Mayoress Allison Minford, pictured with Karen Bruce from Council’s Community Health and Wellbeing Team and DEA Manager, Janet Shearer, to launch the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme for Mid and East Antrim. Families caring for loved ones with dementia across Mid and East Antrim are being offered new peace of mind through a safeguarding scheme designed to help vulnerable residents return home safely if they become lost

(From left) Youth workers Matthew Simpson, Jonny Farrell and Johnny Crymble. Support services for children and teenagers across Mid and East Antrim are being expanded this summer amid growing concerns around anti-social behaviour, safeguarding risks, mental health pressures and the dangers young people can face when schools close for the holidays. Youth workers, police and community organisations told a public meeting in Ballymena this week that summer can become a particular

Arthur Cottage in Cullybackey, Ballymena. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has agreed to scrap admission charges at one of its historic tourist attractions for a 12-month trial period — despite concerns from some councillors over falling income and ongoing financial pressures. Members of the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee backed the proposal for free entry at President Arthur Homestead in Cullybackey during a meeting at The Braid in Ballymena on Tuesday

Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena A review of leisure centre opening hours is set to be carried out by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council after councillors called for a rethink on bank holiday closures. Speaking at last week’s council meeting at The Braid in Ballymena, Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly proposed a motion calling for leisure facilities to open during bank holidays. Cllr Donnelly said: “For many of us, bank holidays are a welcome opportunity t