Additional 250 ‘park and ride’ spaces proposed for Mossley West

An additional 250 ‘park and ride’ spaces have been earmarked for the halt in Newtownabbey.

The expansion will include a link road to the existing park and ride at Mossley halt with lighting, vehicular, pedestrian footpath and cycle path access as well as  accessible parking, cycle storage and CCTV.

The development follows a  programme of improvement works scheduled to take place at the station and park n ride area last year.

This work included resurfacing the park and ride area, the platforms and the ramps.

A shortage of parking spaces at the site has been described as “severely lacking” previously by East Antrim Alliance MLAStewart Dickson.

Speaking in the Assembly earlier this year, Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said that Translink, in bringing forward this plan, should “engage with and involve the local community to get a solution that meets the needs of most people in the area”.

The minister indicated that initially the Department had approved a business case for 235 spaces.

“However, following a request from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, it become necessary to review that plan in order to incorporate links to the council’s greenway strategy.

“While that has delayed the project, it should ensure a facility that better meets the needs, not only of those who drive to our park-and-ride sites but of those who walk and cycle,” she said.

“It is exactly that more holistic and joined-up approach that I believe is essential if we are to encourage and enable more people to travel sustainably.”

South Antrim DUP MLA Pam Cameron warned that any proposal coming through planning may have a detrimental effect on the residents and cause further traffic congestion, given that the area is also on a bus route.

The minister said that she was not aware that there were “any continued significant issues”. She indicated that if there are any issues, these could be resolved when the planning application comes to council for consideration.

South Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken said: “As vice-president of Mossley Hockey Club,  I would like her Department to ensure that, in the expansion of Mossley halt, a full consultation is carried out with the community, including the hockey club, on how traffic management will be conducted and, while expanding this great facility, how disruption to a long-suffering community will be diminished.”

Translink has indicated previously that a traffic impact assessment was due to be carried out at the junction of Carnmoney Road North and Doagh Road.

Meanwhile, Translink has reported that negotiations are also taking place with a local resident to purchase 0.6 acres of land for additional park and ride spaces at Jordanstown.

A spokesperson for Translink said: “Plans are in place to provide an enhanced, 200 plus space park and ride facility at Mossley West in the Newtownabbey area, enhancing the existing site.

“It is hoped that planning approval will be granted in the coming months for the enhanced facility to meet current and future parking demand.”

Read a previous park and ride story 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.

In 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

With 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.