Mid & East Antrim Connections - Summer 2018

Mid and East Antrim Borough Residents’ Magazine

Find your #MEAdventure SUMMER SPECIAL Inside: 06 Holiday bin collections

12 Summer Events Guide

15 Brightening up the Borough

Summer 2018

Useful Numbers

Get in touch

To contact Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, telephone

We are always looking at ways to make it easier for you to engage with us at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

0300 124 5000 Arthur Cottage 028 2563 5010 Carrickfergus Marina 028 9336 6666 Glenarm Marina 028 2884 1285 Newferry Tourism Facility 028 2563 5010 Portglenone Marina 028 2563 5010 The Gobbins Visitor Centre 028 9337 2318 Visitor Information Centres Ballymena Visitor Information Centre 028 2563 5077 Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre 028 9335 8222 Larne Visitor Information Centre 028 2826 2495 Cemetery Enquiries Ballymena 028 2563 3213 Carrickfergus 028 9335 8220 Larne 028 2826 2384 Parks & Open Spaces Carnfunnock Country Park 028 2826 2471

Bentra Golf Course 028 9337 8996

We welcome your queries, comments and suggestions.

You can contact us directly by telephone on 0300 124 5000

Leisure Centres

You can visit or write to us at any of the offices below:

Amphitheatre Carrickfergus 028 9335 8342 Larne Leisure Centre 028 2826 2497 Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena 028 2563 3382 Ballymena Showgrounds 028 2563 3290 Planning Area Planning Office 0300 200 7830 Waste, Street Cleansing and Recycling For all areas: Call 0300 124 5000 and choose option 0 Environmental Health Animal Welfare 028 2563 3134 (or on weekends and holidays, call 07824 994490) Grants Community and volunteer grants – Ballymena 028 2563 3148 Community and volunteer grants – Carrickfergus and Larne 028 9335 8240

Keep up-to-date You can keep up-to-date with us on social media. We use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share the latest news, events and information from Council.

As always, there are special arrangements in place for waste and recycling collections on public holidays (page 6) and we will continue to work across all our priorities to create ‘a better future for all’ in Mid and East Antrim.

MEA Borough Council twitter.com/mea_bc instagram.com/meaboroughcouncil

04 06

News In Brief

Holiday Bin Collection

Wherever your summer takes you, we hope it is a good one.

If you have any comments on the magazine, please contact:

Did you know?

Communications Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Ardeevin 80 Galgorm Road Ballymena BT42 1AB

We publish Connections magazine three times a year to keep you up-to-date with Council news and events; and to promote key services and messages. We know that not everyone is on social media, so we think this is an effective way to engage with everyone who lives and works here. Each copy costs less than 35p to produce and deliver to your door. It is also available to read online at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/connections

If you would like this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, please contact us on communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5000.

This magazine is delivered to houses and businesses in the Borough. This includes BT43 7, BT43 6, BT38 7, BT38 9, BT38 8, BT43 5, BT42 4, BT42 3, BT42 2, BT42 1, BT40 3, BT40 2, BT40 1 as well as a large number of split postcode areas. If you live in the Borough and have not received a copy of this magazine in your post, please contact the Communications department.

Connections is approved by the Plain English campaign.

Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

It may not always bring sunshine, but as you will see from this edition, there will always be something to do in our beautiful Borough.

So make plans to stay and wander – there are parks and Play Days, forests and festivals, coast roads and culture. Read more about our #MEAdventures on Pages 8-10. Plan your days off with our Events listings on Page 12-13.

Energise the kids at a summer scheme (back cover) and appreciate our floral charm in our villages or at the annual Flower Show (Page 21).

And if the sun does come out to play, well that’s just an added bonus.

Ballymena (Headquarters) The Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena BT43 5EJ Ballymena Ardeevin, 80 Galgorm Road, Ballymena BT42 1AB Carrickfergus Civic Centre, 11 Antrim Street, Carrickfergus BT38 7DG Larne Smiley Buildings, Victoria Road, Larne BT40 1RU

The People’s Park 028 2563 3342

2

Welcome to our Summer edition of Connections, the ratepayer magazine for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Some useful non-council phone numbers

10-11

Local Food and Drink

Water and sewerage including septic tank clearance – Northern Ireland Water 0345 744 0088 CUT OUT AND KEEP

Tourism

Summer days are here!

Rating valuation and land registration mapping – Land and Property Services 0300 200 7801 Public roads, footways, bridges, street lights – Transport NI 028 9054 0540 Front Cover: Children playing in Carnfunnock Country Park We have done our best to ensure all information is correct at the time of going to print.

12-13

Summer Events Guide 3

News In Brief

Tourism

Welcoming the world to MEA

MEA and your data We take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously.

To provide continuously improving services and to fulfil our statutory obligations, we need to hold and manage some personal information such as names and addresses, telephone numbers and bank details.

To comply with our legal obligations under data protection laws, we will ensure that any personal data we hold will be: • processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner; • collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes; • adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary;

• accurate and where necessary kept up-to-date; • kept for no longer than necessary; • kept securely.

Growing our tourism potential is one of our key priorities, and we are working with partner organisations throughout the industry to put Mid and East Antrim firmly on the tourist map.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which came into force on 25 May, is intended to empower you to have more control over your own personal information.

There are a number of individual rights - to be informed, to access, to rectification, to erasure (or to be forgotten), to restrict processing, to allow for data portability, to object to processing - and rights relating to automated decisionmaking including profiling. We will support

In with the new At June’s Annual General Meeting, the new Mayor for Mid and East Antrim was elected. As this magazine goes to print before this date, we would like to thank Cllr Paul Reid, the Mayor during 2017-18,

With the summer season in full swing, our Tourism staff are working hard to promote the Borough to the world…

for his tireless work promoting Council and for helping to shine a light on the many different people, groups and organisations who work together to make life better for all in Mid and East Antrim.

you in the exercise of your rights in relation to the personal information we hold.

If you want to know more about why we need your personal information

and how we manage it or your rights under GDPR, please visit www. midandeastantrim.gov. uk/privacy or contact the Policy Team at policy@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Registrar Services Our Registrar and Deputy Registrars look after the registration of births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships across the Borough. With teams in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne, they now operate on an appointment basis.

For opening times and information, please visit www.midandeastantrim.

gov.uk/registrar or call 028 2563 3179 (Ballymena), 028 9335 8224 (Carrickfergus) or 028 2826 2385 (Larne). Please note the Larne office is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only.

Global network In April, we welcomed a group of 20 international tour operators to the Borough, as part of a Meet the Buyer event organised by Tourism NI in association with Tourism Ireland.

Designed to promote Northern Ireland as a tourism destination internationally, the tour operators were treated to a three-day tour of the Causeway Coastal Route, stopping off at top tourist attractions including Glenarm Castle, Carnlough, Ballygally, Carrickfergus

Castle and some of our Game of Thrones filming locations.

A story to share We have an enviable position on the internationally famous Causeway Coastal Route, and world-class attractions from The Gobbins to Carrickfergus Castle and beyond.

To help tell this story worldwide, we are working on an exciting new tourism brand that will capture attention and promote the Borough on a global stage. Keep an eye out for our consultation events taking place throughout the summer.

Informing the industry If you are interested in keeping up-to-date with local tourism and hospitality news, we produce a regular tourism e-zine to help inform, connect and promote the best of our Borough.

You can sign up at www. midandeastantrim.gov. uk/tourism

All registry offices will be closed on 12-13 July and on 27 August.

The Gobbins One of the most unique and exhilarating experiences in Northern Ireland is The Gobbins in Islandmagee, and it is now open for bookings.

Call 028 9337 2318 or visit www.thegobbins cliffpath.com Hosting the best We are sponsoring two new events this year in the Borough, with the

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

World Luxury Spa Awards on 14 July and the 2018 National Golf Tourism Conference and Gala Irish Golf Awards in October.

Both events are being held at the Galgorm Hotel and Spa and are great opportunities to showcase Mid and East Antrim to the world! We will be hosting organized tours of our tourist attractions and networking events for delegates throughout.

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Waste and Recycling

Waste & Recycling

Public holiday waste and recycling collections Alternative collection days for black/brown/blue bins Bank Holiday

Ballymena

Carrickfergus

Thursday 12 July

Saturday 14 July

Friday 13 July Saturday 14 July

Larne

Bank Holiday

Ballymena

Carrickfergus

Larne

Saturday 7 July

Saturday 14 July

Thursday 12 July

Saturday 14 July

Saturday 14 July

N/A

As normal

Saturday 14 July

As normal

Friday 13 July

As normal

As normal

N/A

As normal

As normal

As normal

Saturday 14 July

As normal

As normal

N/A

Brown bin, food waste in

Did you know?

During April-December 2017, recycling food waste resulted in:

Thank you for continuing to support our food recycling campaign by putting food waste into your brown bin. Our refuse crews have reported that residents are doing a great job ensuring the correct bin is used, reducing food waste into the black bin.

Well done!

• 22% less black bin waste • 21% more brown bin organic waste • Savings of over £150,000 to the ratepayer Compost made from your food waste is used in our local parks.

By recycling your food waste in this way, we are helping our borough be a brighter and more colourful place to live.

What to do now?

Please continue to use your kitchen caddy and the compostable bags, and present your brown bin on the correct bin collection date.

Team up to clean up!

Join us in supporting the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful ‘The BIG Spring Clean’ throughout 2018.

We provide litter pickers, gloves, bags, bin lorries, road sweepers and people power to collect litter lying along roadsides, in parks, in wastelands and also along river courses.

To date, we have helped ‘spring-clean’ 6

Alternative collection days for kerbside boxes

41 areas throughout the Borough. Thanks to all the community groups, individuals and businesses that have rolled up their sleeves and joined in. To get involved, contact jeff.hamill@ midandeastantrim.gov. uk or catherine.hunter@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk to set up a local clean-up in your area.

Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

What’s next?

We are on track to beat the NI recycling target of 50% (food waste and dry recycling) by 2018 and to achieve our own ambitious target of 60% by 2020. The results of your recycling efforts have contributed to our Council achieving Platinum Status and having the highest performance among councils in the NI Environmental Benchmarking Survey 2017. Keep up the great work!

Not so fantastic plastic!

In June, we encouraged all our Council staff and the wider community to go ‘single-use plastic free’ in association with the Marine Conservation Society. Now we want to continue to encourage everyone to be more conscious of buying and using single-use plastic. More and more evidence is being gathered to show how damaging this type of plastic is to our environment – especially to oceans and wildlife. Here are some top tips for reducing your use of plastic:

• Bring your own shopping bag • Carry a reusable water bottle • Bring your own cup instead using disposables • Pack your lunch in reusable containers • Say no to disposable straws and cutlery • Skip the plastic produce bags • Slow down and dine in rather than ordering takeaway • Store leftovers in glass jars • Share these tips with your friends

For more ideas, visit www.lessplastic.co.uk

Green Dog Walkers club!

We have had a great response to our Green Dog Walker initiative, which is a non-confrontational and friendly way to encourage dog walkers to clean up after their pets.

Since the start of the year, 254 volunteers have pledged to always pick up after their pets, carry extra dog waste bags, be happy to provide other dog walkers with waste bags, and highlight any problem areas to Council. Those who sign up to the scheme will be issued with Councilbranded materials,

including poop scoop bags and special leads and collars for their four-legged friends.

Did you know?

There are four items of litter for every step you take on a beach in Northern Ireland.

• 82% of all marine litter found in 2017 was plastic.

• 30% of all litter found was a single-use plastic. igures from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, F www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

Over the summer months, council officers will be visiting community events and popular dog walking spots to raise awareness and encourage the public to participate in the scheme.

For more information, please contact the Enforcement Officers at Mid and East Antrim Environmental Health Office on 028 2563 3123 or e-mail greendogwalkers@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Did you know?

Anybody who allows their dog to foul in public and fails to pick it up could be given an £80 on-the-spot fine. Failure to pay could result in court action.

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MEAdventure

MEAdventure

Get #MEActive

STAY AND PLAY

• Sweat it out on one of Council’s 28 sports pitches, 18 MUGAs, 14 outdoor gyms, four bowling greens, four tennis courts, three leisure centres, two nine-hole golf courses, one skate park and one mini-golf facility.

• We have 69 play parks, 31 community parks and eight premium parks which have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag. How many have you visited?

• Get a breath of fresh air on one of our 17 walkways or 11 open spaces.

• Love Parks Week (Page 20) and Play Days are free activities that we organise Borough-wide to get everyone outside and entertained whatever the weather.

• Kids need to blow off some steam? Sign them up for one of our leisure centre summer schemes. Details on back cover.

• Go for a paddle at one of our three beaches with the Seaside Award: Carnlough beach, Ballygally beach and Browns Bay.

NATURE’S BOUNTY • Get close to nature in one of our five nature reserves – Bashfordsland Wood and Oakfield Glen in Carrickfergus, Ecos Nature Park in Ballymena, Beach Road in Whitehead, Carrickfergus Mill Ponds, and Cranny Falls in Carnlough.

• Sign up for an allotment space in Larne, Carrickfergus or Greenisland.

• Join one of our Biodiversity Summer Schools (page 19).

• Build a bird box, a bug house or a nature den.

We have workshops and classes throughout the summer, including a full programme of fun in Carnfunnock Country Park.

CULTURE AND CLASSES

Find your MEAdventure!

• Throughout the spring and summer, there are 100 free events across the Borough.

• Fancy some open air Shakespeare? We are putting on The Merchant of Venice in Carrickfergus in July (pg12). Or if it’s history you are into, join us as we re-enact The Siege of Carrickfergus and the landing of King William in August (Pg13).

Parks and Play Days, forests and festivals, coast roads and culture… we are celebrating everything there is to do in our Borough, meaning you don’t have to go far or spend much money to have a world-class adventure this summer.

• We have a full programme of exhibitions and masterclasses in our Arts and Museums facilities, from quilting to art trails and more (see pages 12-13).

GO EXPLORE • There are 400 square miles and 62 miles of coastline to explore in Mid and East Antrim.

• Lonely Planet named the Causeway Coast as the number one region to visit in the world in 2018 – just months after it named the Causeway Coastal Route one of the world’s ultimate road trips. Enjoy the Mid and East Antrim section as it winds its way around our spectacular coastal edges from Carrickfergus to Garron Point, taking in Larne’s Black Arch and our coastal villages of Whitehead, Glenarm and Carnlough.

Why not share your experience and help us put the Borough on the map!

Tag @MEA_BC and #MEAdventures in your social media.

• Talking of award-winning, did you know Broughshane was voted UK Village of the Year by Channel 4? Visit the village and find out why for yourself. Other award-winning villages include Ahoghill, Glenarm and Whitehead.

• Be a tourist without leaving your own Borough. Our top visitor attractions include The Gobbins in Islandmagee, Carrickfergus Castle, Slemish mountain and the presidential homesteads of Andrew Jackson Cottage, Carrickfergus; and Arthur Cottage, Cullybackey.

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

9

Economic Development

Economic Development

What is the Food and Drink Network?

The Mid and East Antrim Food and Drink Network is for local producers in the agri-food sector.

We want to support and grow the industry, offering networking, PR opportunities and business masterclasses.

This spring, we brought three producers to the IFEX Show in Belfast, where they had the opportunity to showcase their goods to thousands of key buyers and retailers from across the world.

In May, we offered eight

businesses the opportunity to exhibit at the NI Food Pavilion at the Balmoral Show at a subsidised rate. They were joined by celebrity chef Jenny Bristow, who created mouth-watering recipes from food sourced locally in the Borough.

With plenty more workshops and events being planned, get involved by contacting amplify@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk or visit amplifymidand eastantrim.com

Did you know?

Mid and East Antrim is home to a vibrant agri-food sector with one in five people working for the 1,363 agri-food businesses based in the region.

Fuel your MEAdventure!

We challenged ourselves to fill a picnic basket with food sourced entirely from businesses in the Mid and East Antrim Food and Drink Network – and we were blown away by the adventurous cuisine available.

Roughly clockwise from top left: 9 Blends Coffee from Café Riva in Larne, taking brand inspiration from the Glens of Antrim and using nine different origin Arabica beans.

Glens of Antrim ridge cut jacket potato crisps.

Employing over 50 staff in Cushendall and Ballymena, the company’s crisps are gluten-free, GMO-free and with no artificial colours or flavours. www.goacrisps.com Clearer Water – naturally stone-purified still and sparkling water. A social

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

enterprise based in Larne with all profits going towards helping change people’s lives both locally and globally. www. clearerwater.com SeaSugar hand-pulled sweets. Winner of a Great Taste Award in both 2016 and 2017.

Completely natural and made in Larne, with flavours including black cherry and vanilla, lemon and elderflower, and green apple and spearmint. www.seasugar.co.uk Baps and scones from Kerr’s Bakery. Trading since 1962, the company employs 25 people in Harryville.

Beetroot and dulse chutney, lavender jelly and elderflower cordial, from From Granny’s Pantry, Cullybackey. www.facebook.com/ FromGrannysPantry

Sea salt chocolate by Wee ChoCo and marshmallows

by Wee Mallows. Together, they form Wee Delights, a social enterprise company in Larne whose profits help support people with learning difficulties and Autism. www.facebook. com/weemallows Chicken breasts, mini fillets and seasoned chicken from Moy Park. Northern Ireland’s largest private sector business, Moy Park employs over 1,000 people at their Ballymena site. Their produce is on supermarket shelves across the UK and Europe.

Granny Shaw’s Fudge Factory Handmade from their new open workshop in Glenarm Castle. A wide variety of flavours, including chocolate mint swirl, salted caramel and strawberries and cream. www.grannyshaws fudgefactory.co.uk

Dulse from the Irish Seaweed Company in Carnlough. Rich in minerals, dulse can be eaten as part of your picnic, or used as a salt replacement. Owner Gillian Thompson suggests placing some dulse on top of a pork chop on a barbeque to give an enhanced bacon flavour! www.irishseaweed.co.uk

Shop local!

We offered all the businesses involved with the Food and Drink Network the opportunity to participate in this feature. Of course, there are many more local food businesses and we encourage you to support them all by exploring local produce whenever you can.

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Events

Events

Summer Events Guide July Hand to the Plough exhibition: The impact and influence of Robert Burns in Mid-Antrim.

Big Splash Festival 14–21 July, Portglenone

Touring exhibition of four artists, all focusing on ‘what makes us human’.

A week of family fun on the banks of the River Bann. www.facebook.com/ BigSplashFestival

Model Railway exhibition Mon–Fri throughout July Larne Museum and Arts Centre A 00 gauge model of Ballymena & Larne (Northern Counties) Narrow Gauge Line as it was around 1920.

Built by members of the Model Railway Club at Ballyclare High School.

6 July to 25 August Mid-Antrim Museum, The Braid.

Quilt-tastic 7 July to 1 September Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre Thrifty Threads: An exhibition of traditional patchwork quilts featuring quilts from the Carrickfergus Museum collection, as well as the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

Lecora Quilters: A stunning display of contemporary textile arts and embroidery.

Shakespeare in the Park 20 July Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus This year’s outdoor performance is The Merchant of Venice. £3 per ticket, from Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre.

Supercup NI 22-27 July Youth football tournament with top teams from around the world competing. www.supercupni.com

August Family Fun Days 1 August Marine Gardens Carrickfergus, 11am to 1pm.

The People’s Park, Ballymena, 11am to 1pm.

Carnfunnock Country Park, 2pm-5pm

My Fair Lady 1–4 August Braid Arts Centre Presented by Voiceworks Musical Theatre. www.thebraid.com

Get into Art 6–10 August Larne Museum and Arts Centre

Dalriada Festival 14–15 July Glenarm Castle Major festival of sport, music and food. www.dalriadafestival. co.uk

Ulster Festival of Steam and Transport 20–21 July Ballee Playing Fields.

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Materiality, the quality of composed matter Mon–Fri throughout July Larne Museum and Arts Centre

Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

Get your paintbrush and pencil ready as we host a series of art taster sessions for ages 16+. To book, call 028 2826 2443.

Lord Dannatt’s Round Britain Challenge Festival

14 August Carrickfergus Promenade Watch the flotilla sail past, made up of Reserve Forces, the Cadets Association and the Jubilee Sailing Trust, who are all taking part in a 40-day tall ship voyage around the UK.

Children’s Creative writing workshop

all entrants and plenty of family entertainment. For more information, visit www.seaparkac.com.

History of the Peace (accordin’ to my Ma)

Register at Carrickfergus Amphitheatre, 028 9335 8342 or email amphitheatre@midand eastantrim.gov.uk

4 September Braid Arts Centre

Siege of Carrickfergus

The sell-out sequel to the smash hit comedy, The History of the Troubles (according to my Da’). www.thebraid.com

27 August Castle Green, Carrickfergus

Autumn Art Exhibition

NI Open

7–22 September Carrickfergus Museum and Arts Centre

MEA Flower Show See Page 19

Islandmagee art trail 25–26 August Featuring local artists exhibiting their work in various locations around Islandmagee. Maps available from local shops, Larne Museum and Arts Centre and Larne Visitor Information Centre.

Storming the Castle 10k run 26 August, Carrickfergus Annual run and a medieval-themed children’s fun run. Part of the Novosco 10k Grand Prix series, complete with prizes, medals for

Mon-Fri throughout August, Larne Museum and Arts Centre Exhibition of work by local artist Alan Campbell

Larne Landscapes Mon–Fri throughout August, Larne Museum and Arts Centre Art exhibition by local artist Chris Gilbert.

September Merchant Navy Day 3 September, Larne Port Flag hoisting ceremony, paying tribute to the men and women of the Merchant Navy.

Unveiling of commemorative paving stone to mark the centenary of the Victoria Cross award, the highest honour awarded for bravery.

Neil Diamond Celebration

Throughout the Summer

£25 per child, booking essential.

Call 028 2826 2471

The Magic of Paint and Brush

Veteran Irish rockers Bagatelle play Larne as part of their 40th Anniversary tour. Call Larne Visitor Information Centre on 028 2826 2495 or visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/ larnemuseumandarts

26 September, Carrickfergus

www.thebraid.com

13–17 August Carnfunnock Country Park

Annual professional golf tournament. www.niopen.golf

21 September, McNeill Theatre, Larne £22.50

James Crichton VC Memorial

28 September Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena

Re-enactment of the siege of Carrickfergus and the landing of King William.

16–19 August Galgorm Castle

Bagatelle

Two Ulster artists join forces to present a stunning array of paintings including some breath-taking local landscapes.

European Heritage Open Days

Super Saturdays

Summer at Carnfunnock

First Saturday of July and August, 11am-2pm, free entry, Carrickfergus Museum and Civic Centre

School’s out and summer is in! Keep the kids entertained with a fabulous family day out at the award-winning Carnfunnock Country Park.

From our gardens and maze to our games zone and playground, there is always an opportunity to get active. We also run a huge programme of events to make the summer extra special – check out www.carnfunnock.co.uk for more information.

Activities include storytelling, music, dance, crafts, puppet shows and more.

Suitable for ages 1-5.

Booking essential – call 028 9335 8241 or email carrickfergus museums@midandeast antrim.gov.uk

8–9 September Borough-wide

ECOS CAFÉ OPENS!

Free entry open days to historic buildings that showcase our built heritage.

Information at www. discovernorthernireland. com/things-to-do/ attractions/loveheritage/ from August 13.

The Drawbridge Café at Ecos is reopening in time for summer! Refuel with Lavazza coffee or treat yourself to a Mullin’s ice-cream. You can also explore a new wildlife trail for kids on Ecos Island.

Gig ‘n the Bann 13–16 September Portglenone Cross-community music and dance festival. www.gignthebann.com

Please note that events may change after this magazine has been printed.

Please check with the organiser or visit www. midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ events for more information and/or updates. You can also find out more in our What’s On guide, available in our Visitor Information Centres or online at www. midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ events.

Mid and East Antrim

What’s On Guide March – June 2018

www.midandeastantrim.go

v.uk/events

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Economic Development

Economic Development

Manufacturing sector comes together to plan future growth A major step in Council’s ambitious plans to rejuvenate the manufacturing sector has been taken at a workshop held in the ECOS Innovation Centre, Ballymena.

Council’s Manufacturing Taskforce workshop brought together over 100 leaders and stakeholders including 50 representatives from the borough’s manufacturing companies for a brainstorming session to exchange ideas around how to grow the sector in the years ahead.

Led by Council Chief Executive Anne Donaghy and supported by the Chair of the Taskforce, Rose Mary Stalker, participants reviewed key issues such as productivity, skills, research and development, supply chain and innovation in SMEs. They were then asked to come up with recommendations as to how those issues

We have been working with Larne Renovation Generation (LRG) to brighten up Larne’s Main Street. The gable ends at RA Glass Opticians and Shoe Zone have had a makeover thanks to professional street artist Eoin McGinn.

should be addressed so that companies can improve their global competitiveness.

This was a very successful event attended by representatives from all of the major employers in the area including Caterpillar, Wrightbus, Ryobi and Moy Park and attracted significant publicity including an interview with Donna Traynor for BBC Newsline.

The project was developed

by LRG founder Andy King, to focus on history and tourism in Larne.

One mural is of Richard Hayward - a pivotal figure in Irish culture during the early-mid twentieth century who promoted

The creation of the Manufacturing Taskforce was in part a response by Council to the economic loss of both Michelin and JTI-Gallaher in recent years.

Other initiatives that we are driving forward in the Borough include participating in City Deal, pitching for the Heathrow Hub, exploring Phase 2 of the Digital Innovation Centre and developing The Gobbins.

Kickstarting Business Since February, we have supported 38 local enterpreneurs in their first year of business trading through our Kickstart programme.

Led by Council and delivered through Ballymena Business Centre, Carrickfergus Enterprise and LEDCOM, Kickstart provides practical guidance and advice to those either about to launch or who have just launched their own business. If you want to get involved in an upcoming programme, visit www.amplifymidandeastantrim.com

Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

Ireland as a tourist destination. The second is of Henry McNeill, the first man to bring tourism to Ireland. The first of his many hotels was the McNeill hotel which was on Larne’s Main Street.

As part of the project, Eoin also delivered art workshops to students at Larne Grammar School.

Funded by council, it is hoped the project will help spread the word about Larne and bring more people into the town centre.

Visitors pour into ‘Umbrella Street’ Another urban art project has made a splash on social media, with Carrickfergus’s ‘Umbrella Street’ adding a floating canopy of colour to West Street. The aim of the temporary installation was to enhance the streetscape and create a focus for the town centre,

Council Chief Executive Anne Donaghy and Chair of the Taskforce, Rose Mary Stalker.

Social Enterprise breathes life into villages Two derelict properties in Mid and East Antrim villages are being given a new lease of life thanks to Mid and East Antrim’s Enabling Scheme.

The old Northern Bank building in Portglenone is being redeveloped into office accommodation and a community and heritage hub. This is being driven by the Portglenone Enterprise Group who have successfully attracted funding from a number of sources to allow them to buy and restore the listed building.

In Broughshane, the Community Association has successfully used

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Street art paints new future in Larne

the Enabling Scheme to purchase and regenerate the site of the former police station. The Broughshane Community Association, in partnership with Triangle Housing, will transform the site into retail units, office space, a new community hub and sheltered housing.

Our Enabling Scheme supports social enterprises to undertake regeneration and investment projects that inspire, create and support selfsustainability. Our vision for social enterprises is part of Amplify, our wider integrated economic development strategy for the Borough.

and was delivered with Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership. The creative approach to regeneration saw an increase in footfall and generated social media interaction, with over 4,000 likes across Instagram and our own posts receiving over 13,000 views.

Go for it Programme Got an idea for a business?

Go for it with your local council.

Start the journey towards getting your business started.

Benefit from one-to-one business mentoring and support to develop your business plan: • Initial assessment of your business idea • Help with identifying potential problems

• Goal setting • Progress management tools • Access to finance

To find out further details or to register for the programme contact: E amplify@midandeastantrim.gov.uk T 028 2563 3195

This project is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth & Jobs Northern Ireland (2014-2020) Programme.

www.goforitni.com 15

Wellbeing in the Community

Wellbeing in the Community

Ready, steady, cook!

Helping to feed people in need

You are never too young to learn about healthy eating, that’s the message we are delivering to daycare centres, playgroups and nurseries across the Borough at the launch of our new Cooking with Toddlers scheme.

Foodbanks provide a vital support across the UK, putting food on the table for those who are struggling. There are three foodbank hubs in the Mid and East Antrim area – in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne. As a council, we support the work they do and have been running information events across the Borough to raise their profiles. Here, we catch up with Janice Colgan, Food Co-Ordinator from Ballymena Foodbank, to find out more.

Devised in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and the Public Health Agency, participating centres will receive a kid-friendly recipe book along with tips and advice on cooking with young children, guide to portion size and an equipment pack to get the group kitchen-ready.

The toolkit provides an interactive way of encouraging children

to eat healthy, nutritious foods - particularly fruit and vegetables - in a fun and exploratory way.

Recipes such as Fruit Rockets, Lightning McQueen apple wheels, sunshine omelettes and ladybird sandwiches fire the imagination at the same time as filling hungry stomachs, making meal times healthier and happier for children.

How does a foodbank work?

In-date, non-perishable food is donated from schools, churches, businesses and individuals. There are also permanent collection points at local supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. A team of volunteers then check and sort it into food parcels at our foodbanks.

How is food distributed?

To distribute it, we partner with care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and police to identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. The clients bring their vouchers to a foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days’ emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink and are able to chat, listen and signpost people to agencies able to help solve any longer-term problems.

At the same time, children will be encouraged to develop good eating habits and they will learn about the importance of a varied, balanced diet.

If you want to get involved or to find out more, call Environmental Health on 028 2563 3118.

Did you know?

Good health and wellbeing is a key theme of our Community Plan, which maps out how we – together with local communities and public, private and voluntary organisations – can plan and deliver better services that make a real difference to people’s lives. You can find out more at www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/communityplan

On the case of our energy detectives!

With approximately 42% of NI households in fuel poverty, we are working with 45 local primary schools to help children learn about energy efficiency and become educators in their own homes.

Over 1,000 pupils have taken part in our Energy Detectives programme, helping to identify ‘energy thieves’ in their homes and reduce energy waste.

Using energy monitors, the young sleuths were set a series of tasks and asked to write up a Detective Report on their mission.

The programme – devised

by Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim Borough Councils, and the Public Health

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

Agency (PHA) - has been well received, with energy-saving behavioral change reported back to Detective HQ including: • Drying washing outside rather than using tumble dryers • Filling the kettle more carefully and not re-boiling it • Switching off appliances at the plug • Switching off chargers • Opening curtains instead of turning lights on.

By involving all the family, the programme shines a light on the small changes everyone can make to save energy and therefore money, helping to reduce fuel poverty at a local level.

What’s typically in a food parcel?

The Trussell Trust have worked with nutritionists to develop a food parcel that contains sufficient nutrition for adults and children, for at least three days of healthy, balanced meals.

A typical food parcel includes cereal, soup, pasta, rice, pasta sauce, lentils, beans, pulses, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, tea/coffee, tinned fruit, biscuits, UHT milk and fruit juice.

Many foodbanks also provide essential non-food items such as toiletries and hygiene products, helping people in crisis to maintain dignity.

If you’re organising a collection for your local foodbank, please check with them first to see which items they are currently in need of.

How many people do you help at Ballymena Foodbank?

Since we started in April 2013 we have fed and supported 4,338 individuals - 2,688 Adults and 1,650 children. Nearly 11,000kgs of food has been given out in food parcels.

How can people support the charity?

People can get involved by volunteering at National Collection times, donating food in-store at Tesco, Sainsbury’s or within their work, church or group.

Financial support is key to allowing us to develop the foodbank further and purchase items we are always short on, or to help supply oil or electric to people who are in severe crisis.

How can people find out more?

The foodbanks listed here are all part of the Trussell Trust - a network of over 400 foodbanks giving emergency food and support to people in crisis across the UK. To find out more – or to connect with your closest food bank – visit www.trusselltrust.org

Ballymena Foodbank – main location Dream Centre, Ballee Drive, Ballee, Ballymena. BT42 3EX 028 2565 0123 info@ballymena.foodbank.org.uk Larne Foodbank – main location Craigyhill Methodist Church, Brustin Brae Road, Larne. BT40 2HS info@larne.foodbank.org.uk 028 2827 7530 Carrickfergus Foodbank – main location 75 Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus. BT38 8PS info@carrickfergus.foodbank.org.uk 028 9343 8475

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PCSP

Parks and Open Spaces

New Neighbourhood Watch newsletter launches

Did you see our Prescription drugs campaign?

Mid and East Antrim PCSP, PSNI and Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinators have launched the first edition of a new Neighbourhood Watch newsletter for Mid and East Antrim.

The MEA PCSP Drugs and Alcohol Steering Group has launched a video campaign to help tackle drug and alcohol misuse, especially of prescription drugs. Aimed at young people and/or the adults in their lives who may want to talk to someone,

The newsletter contains up-to-date information on issues relevant to local communities such as crime prevention advice, new PSNI or PCSP initiatives, contact information and relevant local initiatives.

It is being distributed through local Neighbourhood Watch schemes, in our community facilities and on the PCSP Facebook page – www.facebook.com/ midandeastantrimpcsp For more information, contact the MEA PCSP on 028 2826 2460 or email pcsp@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

it directs people to a free helpline number promoting the dedicated services available in Mid and East Antrim. If you or anyone you know needs help, call 028 2568 9306 – a freephone helpline number offering impartial advice.

Grow your own Borough!

Our Parks and Open Spaces team have grown a mini Mid and East Antrim for the Garden Show in Antrim! The garden showcases the best of our Borough with recreations of The Gobbins, Carrickfergus Town Walls, Slemish, the Glens, the coastline and the River Braid all being featured.

All the materials used were either recycled or locally sourced. The timber came from the Glens, the limestone from Kilwaughter and the rock from our coastline.

Our landscaping efforts were improved with help from schools, community

groups and volunteers who supplied bug hotels, willow hurdles and nest boxes.

The garden was a great opportunity to highlight the biodiversity in our area, and to encourage everyone to get to know their native plants and animal species in hedgerows, hillsides and other local habitats. By finding out more, people can also take action to help preserve and protect areas and animals that are under threat.

To find out more about our commitment to biodiversity, visit: www. midandeastantrim.gov. uk/biodiversity

Blooming great!

Good luck to all of our towns and villages taking part in the Ulster in Bloom competition this year.

This includes Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne, Whitehead, Greenisland, Ahoghill, Islandmagee, Cullybackey, Eden, Gracehill, Glenarm, Glynn, Ballystrudder, Clough and Millbrook.

for over 65s For just £10 a year, we offer offpeak swimming and health suite access to those over 65 years.

Use any of our three leisure centres between opening time and 4pm on Mondays to Fridays, or on Sundays from 1pm-5pm and pay nothing extra. *normal charges apply at peak times

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/MEActive

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

Ballymena is our only entrant into the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom this year, and we can all do our bit to help by putting up hanging baskets, sowing wildflower seeds in forgotten corners and keeping our public places clean and litter-free.

Summer schemes for eco families Our Biodiversity Summer Schools give families the opportunity to learn about the natural world through a variety of activities and games such as bushcraft skills, eco art, pond dipping, mini-beast hunts, creating a hedgehog home and nest box building.

There is no need to book - just turn up to take part whatever your age!

• Monday 30 July to Friday 3 August, 11am to 1pm daily, Diamond Jubilee Wood • Monday 6 August to Friday 10 August, 11am to 1pm daily, Ecos Nature Park • Monday 13 August to Friday 17 August, 11am to 1pm daily, Larne Town Park 19

Parks and Open Spaces

Peace IV

Love Parks Week set to shine

18 August 2018 Larne Market Yard 1pm–4pm

For ten days in July, our parks are going to be alive with activity in celebration of national Love Parks Week. Come along and take part in any of the following: • Wild Survival Skills.

Saturday 14 July, Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena, 2pm-4pm.

• Dippering Dander.

Thursday 19 July, Galgorm Wood Cullybackey, 10am-12pm.

• Band Concert.

Sunday 15 July, Carnfunnock Country Park, 2.30pm-4.30pm.

• Bat Night! Thursday 19 July, Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead, 8pm-10pm.

• Mindfulness Walk, Monday 16 July, Cranny Falls Carnlough, 10am-11.30am.

• Nerf Works Mobile Unit, Friday 20 July, Greenisland Play Park, 2pm-4pm.

• Shakespeare in the Park, Friday 20 July, 6:30pm Shaftesbury Park, Carrickfergus. £3 per ticket

• Cook Your Catch!

Saturday 21 July, Browns Bay Islandmagee.

10am-12noon

• Let’s go Fly a Kite!

Monday 16 July, The People’s Park, Ballymena, 6.30pm-8.30pm • Pop Up Play Day. Tuesday 17 July, Portglenone Marina, 7.30pm-9pm • We’re going on a Bug Hunt! Wednesday 18 July, Martinstown Play Area and Wildlife Pond (Glenravel Road), 11am-1pm.

• Outdoor Bootcamp.

Wednesday 18 July, Town Park Larne, 6.30pm-8pm.

Booking essential – call 028 9335 8271.

Mid and East Antrim

Flower Show and Summer Fair Free entry into our competitions. Categories include Cut Flowers, Pot Plants, Vegetables, Flower Arrangement and Home Industry, with a special Junior section for younger gardeners.

Pick up an entry form from Council venues or download an entry form at www.midandeast antrim.gov.uk/flowershow. Send your completed entry form to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Parks and Open Spaces, 11 Antrim Street, Carrickfergus, BT38 7DG.

All entries must be received no later than 4pm on Thursday 16 August.

Any queries, please call 028 9335 8270

• Family Orienteering Challenge, Sunday 22 July 2018, Bashfordsland Wood Carrickfergus, 1pm-3pm.

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/flowershow

Update to Peace IV programme

For more information on any of the above, contact Parks by email on parks@midandeast antrim.gov.uk

Pupils from three local schools have completed Forest School programmes this Spring.

about native species, it also gives young people a sense of community and civic pride.

Dixon Park became the classroom for Moyle Primary School; Bashfordland Wood and Oakfield Glen was taken over by Victoria Primary School; and the People’s Park hosted Millquarter Primary School.

One teacher from each school also was trained as an accredited Forest School Leader, enabling them to continue with outdoor education after the six-week programme ended.

Forest Schools are becoming more and more popular, promoting sustainable outdoor education to inspire innovative teaching methods and encourage curiosity and exploration. By learning Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

FREE

Alternatively email your entry to flowershow@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Forest school adventure for local pupils

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Admission

We are really pleased to be bringing the Scandanavian concept to Mid and East Antrim, and will be sending applications out to all schools to join in the selection for the 2019 programme in the Autumn.

In the last issue of Connections, we introduced 11 projects that are being rolled out across the Borough thanks to £2.7m of EU funding. Since then, we have secured over £450k more for three further Peace and Reconciliation projects.

The new projects are: WISE (Women Integrating Sharing and Engaging) delivered by LEDCOM. This project will explore the role of women in peace-building in the past, present and future. It aims to promote positive relations at a local level, developing respect and an understanding of how to deal with prejudice, hate and intolerance.

Contact: audreymurray@ ledcomwbp.org

Community Leadership Programme - delivered

by North Antrim Community Network.

The project is designed to bring communities from different backgrounds, religious beliefs and cultures together, so the participants can learn new skills; increase knowledge and gain positive experiences across communities and cultures.

Contact: info@nacn.org Next Generation Leaders and Youth Council – delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and others.

Project for 16 to 24-year-olds promoting active citizenship and developing positive

community leaders for the future.

Contact: bebhinn.mckinley@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk Thanks to our delivery partners and to the Special EU Programmes Body for helping us to draw down the funding. To get involved contact the delivery partners directly; or to find out more about any of the Peace IV projects, contact the Investment and Funding Office on 028 2563 3266 or email peace@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

21

Good Relations

Elected Members

Celebrating Culture Safely As part of the Cultural Celebrations Working Group, we want to ensure that all cultural celebrations this summer in Mid and East Antrim are safe and respectful.

We are working together with the PSNI, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the NI Housing Executive, the Education Authority, NIE Networks, the Department for Infrastructure and the NI Environment Agency to encourage positive, cultural celebrations.

These are celebrations that are carried out

in a respectful and responsible manner, minimising negative impacts on our community and our environment.

This work is supported

by The Executive Office through Council’s Good Relations Programme.

Top tips for a safer celebration: • Safe Sites: Site the bonfire well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables trees and shrubs.

• Safe Structure: Build your bonfire so that is safe and

Pupils get a taste of political life Almost 130 pupils from across the Borough got a taste of political life by taking part in a special Schools Youth Council event at The Braid.

The pupils, from 13 postprimary schools, took park in a variety of activities which included looking at the role of council, the role of councillors and at looking at council services.

They also had the opportunity to experience a mock council meeting, giving them an insight to life as a councillor within the council chamber. There

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was also an interactive good relations workshop.

Speaking after the event, the then Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Cllr Paul Reid, said: “This event has been designed to help our young people learn first-hand about the role of their local Council and we hope this has stirred a real interest in politics for these young citizens – our future leaders. Our hope is that through initiatives like this, our young people will be inspired to embrace the democratic process and become engaged in civic life and with civic leaders.”

Mid and East Antrim Connections Summer 2018

will not collapse.

Don’t build a hut or den inside the bonfire.

Ballymena Cllr Donna Anderson UKIP cllr.anderson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07541 830 589

• Safe Environment: Don’t burn tyres, foam-filled furniture, aerosols, tins of paint, bottles or toxic materials.

Ald John Carson DUP ald.carson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07891 338 220

• Safe Community: Don’t use flammable liquids to light the fire, use domestic firelighters.

Supervise children and keep everyone away from the fire.

For more information, download our Celebrating Culture Safely leaflet from www.midandeastantrim. gov.uk/goodrelations

# celebratingculturesafely

Town hall taster Our Good Relations team also welcomed a cross-community group of Primary Seven pupils from Carnlough and Glenarm to Council’s Civic Headquarters at The Braid in Ballymena. This event, in partnership with Carnlough Community Association, introduced the young people to the theme of ‘Democracy and the workings of local government’. Many

Your Council

thanks to the elected members who took part in this event, and thanks also to the enthusiastic young people from who took part in this educational and fun morning!

Both projects were supported by The Executive Office through Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Good Relations Programme.

For more information, visit www.midandeastantrim. gov.uk/GoodRelations

40 Councillors, elected in seven District Electoral Areas, working together to create a better future for all in Mid and East Antrim Borough.

Ald William McNeilly UUP ald.mcneilly@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07746 157 674

Cllr Cheryl Johnston DUP cllr.johnston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07545 151 992

Cllr Paul Sinclair Alliance cllr.sinclair@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07779 895 013

Ald Tommy Nicholl MBE DUP ald.tnicholl@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07970 012 520

Cllr Noel Jordan UKIP cllr.jordan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07775 633 391

Cllr Andrew Wilson UUP cllr.awilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07414 478 808

Braid

Cllr Robin Stewart UUP cllr.rstewart@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07391 863 571

Larne Lough

Cllr Reuben Glover DUP cllr.glover@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07733 100 803

Cllr Beth Adger MBE DUP cllr.adger@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07976 533 483

Cllr James Henry Independent cllr.jhenry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 028 2565 2456

Coast Road

Cllr Robert Logan Alliance cllr.logan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07565 168 191

Ald Robin Cherry MBE UUP ald.cherry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07785 752 712

Cllr James McKeown Sinn Féin cllr.mckeown@ midandeastantrim.org 07719 335 416

Ald Gregg McKeen DUP ald.mckeen@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07944 641 251

Cllr Stephen Nicholl UUP cllr.snicholl@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07967 621 603

Cllr Beth Clyde DUP cllr.clyde@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07724 906 855

Ald Maureen Morrow UUP ald.morrow@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07765 146 013

Cllr Dr Mark McKinty UUP cllr.mckinty@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07771 925 546

Cllr Declan O’Loan SDLP cllr.oloan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07764 220 533

Cllr Brian Collins TUV cllr.collins@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07745 220 564

Ald Gerardine Mulvenna Alliance ald.mulvenna@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07970 896 367

Cllr Paul Reid DUP cllr.reid@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07713 511 407

Cllr Audrey Wales MBE DUP cllr.wales@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07899 985 110

Ald Sam Hanna DUP ald.hanna@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07710 402 693

Cllr Ruth Wilson TUV cllr.rwilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07771 965 206

Cllr Andy P Wilson UUP cllr.apwilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07754 963 615

Bannside

Cllr Paul Maguire Independent cllr.maguire@ midandeastantrim.org 07857 912 097

Cllr Angela Smyth DUP cllr.smyth@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk ​07896 657 723

Find out more about your local councillors at www.midandeastantrim. gov.uk/councillors

Cllr William McCaughey DUP cllr.mccaughey@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07739 875 626

Knockagh

Cllr Timothy Gaston TUV cllr.gaston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07514 213 186 Cllr Patrice Hardy Sinn Féin cllr.hardy@ midandeastantrim.org 07935 228 722

Carrick Castle

Ald May Beattie DUP ald.beattie@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07939 634 348

Cllr Billy Henry DUP cllr.bhenry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07599 400 857

Cllr Billy Ashe DUP cllr.ashe@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07773 095 133

Cllr Lynn McClurg DUP cllr.mcclurg@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07794 602 517

Ald Stewart McDonald TUV ald.mcdonald@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07793 848 107

Cllr James Brown MBE Independent seejbrown@hotmail.com 07939 634 369

Cllr Lindsay Millar UUP cllr.millar@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07540 399 685

Did you know?

Meetings of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council are recorded, and the audio is available on our website: www.midandeast antrim.gov.uk/audio

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If undelivered, please return to: Communications Mid and East Antrim Borough Council The Braid,1-29 Bridge Street Ballymena, BT43 5EJ

Can’t sit still this summer?

Get #MEActive and join one of our summer schemes for 6–14 year olds.

Mulit-sports, gymnastics, swimming (over 8s only), arts and more!

Weekly price: £37 per child, and £32 for additional siblings

Seven Towers Leisure Centre

Larne Leisure Centre

Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus

Monday 23 July – Friday 10 August (excludes weekends) 10am–3pm

Monday 23 July – Friday 10 August (excluding weekends) 10am-3pm

Monday 16 July – Friday 10 August (excluding weekends) 10am-3pm

Booking forms available from all three leisure centres.

Please note, children should bring a healthy packed lunch with fruit and drink.

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/MEActive