Cllr Alan Barr leads funding call to help community groups clean up Mid and East Antrim

Ballymena Town Hall, and (inset) Braid Councillor Alan Barr

Mid and East Antrim councillors have backed a call for a dedicated Stormont funding programme to help community groups tackle weeds, litter and neglected public spaces across the borough.

The proposal would provide financial support for community organisations and social enterprises carrying out environmental improvements, although several councillors cautioned that any new scheme must not allow councils or other statutory agencies to step back from their existing responsibilities.

Call for dedicated funding

The motion was proposed by Braid Ulster Unionist Councillor Alan Barr and seconded by party colleague, Carrickfergus Castle Councillor Bethany Carson-Ferris, at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council at The Braid in Ballymena on Monday evening.

Cllr Barr asked members to support writing to the Ministers for Communities and Infrastructure seeking a “dedicated funding programme to enable community organisations to undertake environmental improvement works such as weed removal, vegetation management, power-washing and litter clearance”.

He stated:

“Such a scheme should empower local communities to take greater ownership of their surroundings, complement the work of statutory agencies and deliver visible improvements to public realm in a cost-effective manner.”

Explaining the thinking behind the motion, Cllr Barr said:

“I propose this motion because it is about more than weeds, litter, dirty pavements or neglected public spaces. It is about the character of our communities, the standards we set and the pride we have in the places we call home.

“When our streets, town centres, villages and public spaces are clean and well-maintained, we send a clear message: ‘people care about this place’. But when neglect becomes normal, standards begin to fall and when standards fall, civic pride and confidence can fall with them.

“Across Mid and East Antrim, there are people already proving that communities take matters into their own hands. We see community groups organising clean-ups. We see volunteers maintaining local spaces. We see social enterprises improving neighbourhoods.

“Local government should support that attitude not replace it. That’s why I’m asking for a dedicated funding programme which will allow community organisations and social enterprises to undertake environmental improvements. It is about putting modest amounts of public money into the hands of people who are willing to support and to do the work.”

Supporting volunteers across the borough

Cllr Carson-Ferris said:

“We are a very fortunate borough to have so many community and voluntary groups who take pride in the community and want to maintain and improve green spaces and public areas.”

She said the proposal would “complement the work being carried out by statutory agencies whilst delivering visible improvements for local residents, businesses and tourism sector”.

Knockagh DUP Councillor Peter Johnston noted that a £30,000 revenue allocation had been made in June towards increased grass-cutting across the borough in conjunction with the Department for Infrastructure, alongside a capital allocation to purchase equipment.

Welcoming progress, he reported that every town in the borough had received its first additional cut and could “soon receive their second cut”.

Cllr Johnston proposed an amendment to the motion to “ensure vital equipment can be purchased for the wider community to benefit from and to use”.

Braid Sinn Féin Councillor Archie Rae welcomed the motion and acknowledged volunteers who “go over and above cleaning up villages and towns”.

He said:

“It is unseen things where wee pockets of money would help. A lot of these community hubs struggle an awful lot because they can’t get the funding. I think bringing this forward is a great idea.”

Ballymena Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley highlighted a recent clean-up in Harryville, saying: “I feel it is important that communities get some sort of financial support.”

Concerns over statutory responsibilities

Braid Alliance Councillor Chelsea Harwood also praised volunteers who, she said, tidy areas “often at their own expense and who would benefit greatly from funding”.

However, she cautioned:

“I would caution that I don’t want this to be a way for this council getting out of its duties by passing the buck along to its hard-working volunteer groups, but I do think that there is an opportunity to work hand in hand and also continue to fund our groups adequately.”

Bannside TUV Councillor Anna Henry also praised the work of volunteers but expressed similar concerns.

She said:

“I wouldn’t want this to be an excuse for the statutory agencies to not be doing their job.

“I feel like even the fact that we have to bring this motion to council is showing the statutory agencies are not doing the work that they are there to do and 90 per cent of the time, the reason is budgetary constraints and we all know with the rate of inflation that budgetary constraints is something we are all dealing with.

“I am just slightly concerned as to would this be a reason for them to hold back even more if this funding was set up.”

Larne Lough Alliance Councillor Maeve Donnelly highlighted the work of volunteers in Larne and surrounding areas who, she said, are “relentlessly out every weekend”, and called for them to receive greater recognition from the council.

Proposal to return to council

Councillors agreed to support the motion.

Mid and East Antrim Mayor Alderman Tom Gordon subsequently asked officers to take the proposal forward for the relevant financial and equality assessments.

The proposal is expected to return to a future council meeting before a final decision is taken on implementation.