Minister told of Ballymoney Borough's economic woes

The town has lost more than one thousand jobs in the past five years mostly in the manufacturing category and with small businesses closing at an alarming rate, councillors were in an almost pleading tone for assistance from Stormont.

The Mayor, Councillor Bill Kennedy, who led the delegation of councillors representing the different parties, said afterwards that the discussion with the Minister had been very constructive and positive.

Councillors detailed the economic impact of losses to the community with the closure of the likes of Tyco, Reids Transport, Fleming Poultry, Ballymoney Foods and the Agivey Bacon Factory.

Cllr. Kennedy also produced a copy of the Ballymoney Times to show how the town had suffered a further blow with the closure of the Philip Petersen car dealership, Suzuki.

"We simply told the Minister that the town had suffered more than most from the economic downturn and asked what her Department could do for us by way of providing a boost for both the private and public sector.

"Coming from a rural background herself, the Minister said she understood our plight and that she would do all she could to steer us in the right direction both from her own Department and from other key people," the Mayor said.

He stressed that the council were not expecting miracles, but it was an exercise to find out what would be their best approach to further strengthening what they already had such as tourism, agriculture and small businesses as well as making sure the infrastructure of roads etc. was right.

Councillor Kennedy pointed out that they had an excellent number of schools in the Borough and that many of the students went on to University, but since there was no employment at the end of College, the area suffered from a 'brain drain' situation.

He also urged the Minister to do all she could to urge banks to lend to local businesses.