Burrows urges urgent action on Ballymena link road bus access problems

The new multi-million pound NRC Ballymena campus built at the St Patrick’s regeneration site in the town, and (inset) UUP North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows

Concerns have been raised over a major oversight in the £7.5 million St Patrick’s Link Road project in Ballymena, after it emerged that the newly constructed route cannot currently be used by buses.

North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Jon Burrows has urged urgent action, warning that the lack of bus access threatens to undermine the road’s role as a key connection to the soon-to-open Northern Regional College (NRC) campus.

The link road, which connects Larne Link Road to Broughshane Road, was delivered as part of the regeneration of the former St Patrick’s Barracks site.

The Department for Communities described it as “a key component in opening up the full site for much needed mixed development, including access to the new Northern Regional College site.”

However, no infrastructure has been put in place for buses, meaning there are currently no safe drop-off or pick-up points for passengers.

Mr Burrows said the situation was “deeply frustrating” and questioned how such an oversight could have happened.

“The St Patrick’s Link Road was rightly hailed as a vital route to support regeneration and provide access to the new NRC campus, yet we now discover it cannot be used by buses. Lessons need to be learned as to how such an oversight occurred, leaving no safe set-down or pick-up points for passengers,” he said.

The MLA confirmed he has already raised the matter with Graeme Smyth of Translink and is in discussions with the Ulsterbus Ballymena manager to secure clarity on interim transport plans for students.

“What matters now is finding a practical solution. In the interim, every assistance must be provided and clearly communicated to local people, and in the longer term we need a proper plan to ensure safe and reliable public transport access to this important new educational facility,” Mr Burrows added.

The Ulster Unionist representative pledged to continue pressing the relevant departments and Translink to ensure both short-term and long-term solutions are delivered.

The issue comes as Ballymena prepares for the opening of the new NRC campus, which is expected to bring increased demand for reliable and accessible public transport links in the area.