Forum to request meeting with minister over stalled relief road project

Forum members met with local MP William McCrea and MLAs Danny Kinahan and Paul Girvan in the Town Hall on Wednesday, January 21 to stress that a bypass linking Templepatrick Road, Doagh Road and Rashee Road is “vital to the future infrastructure and growth of the town.”

Following an update from the elected representatives, Forum members got the opportunity to put forward their views about the shelved relief road plan and related issues such as new housing projects in and around the town.

“Ballyclare’s populace continues to increase year on year and its residents deserve to be treated fairly and equitably,” a statement issued by the Forum after the meeting said. “We believe that monies from other cancelled projects such as the A5 could be redirected to finish off the work already started in Ballyclare and we would hope that through the offices of the DRD the Executive or Finance Minister will be able to find the funding in future monitoring rounds.”

There was unanimous agreement among members that a letter be sent to the DRD Minister requesting a meeting to discuss the issue face to face.

Meanwhile, the Forum is urging local people to sign a petition calling for the relief road to be designated a strategic priority for the town.

Copies of the petition can be found in the DUP and UUP offices in Ballyclare town centre.