Carrickfergus beach vision quietly dropped by Mid and East Antrim Council, FOI Reveals

Carrickfergus seafront… with an added beach

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has confirmed it will not proceed with plans to create a beach at Carrickfergus seafront.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request received by the council in June last year sought details regarding its plans to “realise this objective”.

The council was asked:

“How can the issues facing natural sand recycling, foul smelling seaweed and the extent of high tide placing water right up against the wall be overcome to facilitate an enhanced beach?”

In response, the local authority stated:

“Council acknowledges that the idea of a beach at this location was mooted as part of the original plan in 2010 alongside various other proposals.

“However, following review of various proposals contained in the original plan, it was decided that this particular proposal was unfeasible and would not be proceeded with.”

The query also referred to the Carrickfergus Masterplan, which cites the “redesign of Marine Gardens to become a public park of national significance”.

Meanwhile, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has reported an increase in the number of Freedom of Information requests during the 2025/26 financial year.

A report presented to the council’s Corporate Resources, Policy and Governance Committee at a meeting in The Braid, Ballymena, on Monday evening said there were 162 information requests received and processed between 1 October and 31 December 2025. Of these, 138 were Freedom of Information requests.

Sixteen were Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) requests, eight were Subject Access Requests (SAR) and there were three requests for internal review.

Currently, there are 21 Freedom of Information requests in progress, three EIR requests, four SARs and one internal review. There are four overdue Freedom of Information responses, with the reason given as awaiting information from the department involved.

Of the 526 information requests received by the local authority overall during the 2025/26 financial year, 182 were completed upon receipt and were described as “predominantly requests for information not relevant to council”.

The total number received has increased by 23 per cent compared to the first three quarters of 2024/25.

Speaking at the meeting, Larne Lough Ulster Unionist councillor Roy Beggs asked if it would be “more efficient” if more information could be published by the borough council.