Some Mid and East Antrim villages ‘losing out’ on revitalisation funding, council told
The issue was highlighted at a meeting of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Monday evening.
The meeting was told that villages have had to take the same precautions as those in town centres during the Covid pandemic but are faced with “much greater” expense.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdConcern was also expressed that more than 30 businesses in Harryville, Ballymena, may not been included in the scheme due to their location outside the town centre as well as those in Portglenone and Galgorm.
The “larger” villages in Mid and East Antrim set to benefit are Ahoghill, Broughshane, Cullybackey and Whitehead. It was confirmed that Harryville would be included.
Funding of between £500 and £2,000 is open to independent traders in these areas as well as Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena to cover PPE equipment and costs incurred to make adaptations to comply with government guidelines.
The Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Knockagh Ulster Unionist Councillor Andrew Wilson, pointed out that Greenisland has the fourth largest urban population in the borough but is excluded from the scheme.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“There have been a number of applications from the general Carrickfergus area. It is good to see that the scheme is up and running and is open for applications,” he added.
Coast Road Alliance Alderman Gerardine Mulvenna commented that the funding does not extend up the coast beyond Larne.
“It is important that the rural villages should be included.”
Party colleague Larne Lough Cllr Danny Donnelly said he had been approached by businesses at Ledcom in Larne which look set to lose out as they are located “just outside the town centre boundary”.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMid and East Antrim expects to receive a total amount of £794,000 from funding of £11m announced by the Department for Communities and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) which will be received in two tranches.
Chief executive Anne Donaghy explained that council are “the administrators of the scheme” which she described as “very prescriptive” with the focus on increasing footfall levels back into town centres and larger villages laid out by DAERA.
“Our role is simply to get the money out to businesses as quickly as possible,” she stated.
She said that the scheme extended to Harryville and she would clarify the boundaries for members and make representation for smaller villages. The Mayor asked for Greenisland to be included. She also indicated that there will be a second tranche of money.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdFifty-four local businesses have applied for financial assistance through the Town Centre Revitalisation Scheme which opened for applications at the start of this month.
Commenting after the meeting, the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Cllr Peter Johnston, said: “Our town centres are at the very heart of our local communities and this investment by DfC and DAERA is well-deserved recognition of the critical role they play in driving our local economy.
“The Town Centre Recovery Group which was set up has been working tirelessly to do all they can to assist businesses through this difficult period and these grants will only aid that recovery.” Read here
Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.
--
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.
You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.
Thank you.