Sinn Féin’s Bréanainn Lyness abstains while party colleagues voted yes to 2.95% Ballymena rates increase

Sinn Féin councillor in Ballymena, Bréanainn Lyness

A Sinn Féin councillor in Ballymena has abstained from voting on a 2.95 per cent rates increase, breaking with party colleagues who supported the rise at Monday night’s rates-setting meeting.

Bréanainn Lyness said he could not “in good conscience” back the increase, citing the continued decline of Ballymena town centre and the impact rising costs are having on local businesses and traders.

During last night’s vote DUP, Alliance Party, and Sinn Féin elected members (apart from Councillor Lyness) all voted to approve the 2.95% rise.

UUP and Indeoendent councillors voted no to the increase.

Speaking following the meeting, Councillor Lyness said:

“I cannot, in good conscience, vote in favour of this rate increase. As a Ballymena man, I am watching our high street slowly die—Wyse Byse, and now McKillens, where I used to get my school uniform, is now closing.”

The council meeting resulted in the approval of a 2.95 per cent increase in domestic and non-domestic rates, with Sinn Féin councillors voting in favour of the rise while Councillor Lyness abstained.

‘Enable growth, not stifle it’

The Ballymena councillor said he believed town centre businesses should be supported through reduced rates rather than further financial pressure, warning that continued increases could accelerate decline.

He said: “We, as the people in power, need to significantly reduce the rates for businesses within our town centres; if this keeps going, we won’t be a shopping town for much longer.”

Councillor Lyness argued that frontline services could be protected without placing additional burdens on ratepayers, suggesting alternative approaches to council spending.

“We can maintain frontline services by reducing spending or cancelling some unpopular capital projects; we cannot put our excess spending onto our ratepayers. If we cannot afford it, cancel it,” he said.

Questioning the logic of increasing costs during a period of economic pressure, he added:

“When our high streets are struggling, how can we increase their rates? To me, we need to facilitate growth, not stifle it. Enable growth first and foremost.”

‘A deliberate stand’

Addressing his decision to abstain rather than vote against the rate, Councillor Lyness stressed that it was a conscious protest rather than a procedural move.

“Abstaining wasn’t avoidance—I spoke out against this in the chamber; it was a deliberate stand against burdening our struggling businesses without first addressing wasteful spending,” he said.

He added: “I abstained from this vote because I will not support another increase while watching our high street businesses suffer and close down.”

While acknowledging the financial pressures facing the council, Councillor Lyness said his position was rooted in personal experience of Ballymena’s changing town centre.

“If it were up to me alone, there would have been more cuts to capital spending and a reduced rate, but it isn’t; however, my conscience would not let me vote for another rise,” he said.

“I also understand the council’s financial difficulties; however, I will not back something I disagree with, especially as a Ballymena man witnessing what’s happening to our town.”

The rates decision will affect households and businesses across Ballymena and the wider borough in the coming financial year, with town centre traders among those facing increased costs at a time of ongoing economic pressure.