St. Patrick’s barracks - Swann welcomes fold announcement move on Barracks

NEWS that Fold Housing Association is taking ownership of 47 homes in the former St Patrick’s Army Barracks site next month has been warmly welcomed by UUP MLA Robin Swann.

Revealing the move last week following a meeting with the Association, the Assemblyman said it was “long awaited” and would make “a major contribution to social housing in the town”.

He had earlier challenged the Office of First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to speed up the process of getting the land at the former St Patrick’s Barracks in Ballymena made ready for much-needed social or economic use.

He did so after receiving a written response from the key Stormont office to a question regarding the security at the Barracks.

“In that written response, the OFMDFM informed me that it took responsibility for the site on April 15, last year,” said Mr Swann.

“The security costs incurred from then until the 31 August, 2011, were £86,683, which equated to about £630 per day.

“Bearing these significant costs in mind, I argued that the sooner this site is put into social or economic use in the town, the better. The houses should be used for social housing, and the land developed. Now this appeal has become a reality and I warmly welcome this decision,” said the UUP MLA.

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