Latest news with #MidandEastAntrimBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minister refuses to resign over 'reckless' Facebook post
A Stormont minister has rejected calls for him to resign over a social media post about the location of migrant families who left their homes hours before the centre was attacked. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said that people caught up in clashes in Ballymena were being temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre. It was later attacked by about a crowd of 100 people and set on fire. The minister was accused of being "reckless and dangerous" by Alliance assembly member Danny Donnelly who was in the leisure centre when a crowd of about 100 smashed windows and set bins on fire inside. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said Lyons should reflect on his comments, while the Green Party called for Lyons to resign. The attack on Larne Leisure Centre came during a third night of violence in Northern Ireland. Police have been attacked with fireworks, bottles and bricks during the disorder. The worst of the rioting was in Ballymena, but unrest also spread to other towns, including Larne, about 20 miles (30km) away, on Wednesday evening. The fire service said that fire damage to the centre had been "contained mainly to the front reception but there was extensive smoke damage". In a statement on Wednesday night, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the families placed at the centre had all been "safely relocated" and were no longer using the centre. However, Lyons has been criticised for an earlier Facebook post in which he said he had been made aware that "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre". Sinn Fein Minister John O'Dowd called on Lyons to consider his position. He said the post was "unacceptable" and it failed to show leadership. Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said: "I thought it was incredibly reckless and dangerous to highlight the location of where these people were being kept and brought to a place of safety." Justice Minister Naomi Long also criticised the communities minister, adding: "I don't think his comments were measured or wise". The SDLP's Matthew O'Toole said he would refer Lyons to the standards commissioner over his comments, saying "lives are at stake". Lyons has defended his comments saying the information was in the public domain, and had been confirmed by the local council. "I will very strongly hit back at any notion that I had revealed the use of this facility to the public when the protest was already planned, when everybody knew what was happening," Lyons told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme. He added that "the police had got in contact with our local councillors to say: 'We need to defuse the situation and let people know that this is or should no longer be the focus of any protest'." Green Party councillor Áine Groogan accused the minister of choosing to "stir division and deflect from his own failures". "This isn't leadership. It's cowardice. And it proves what many already know: Gordon Lyons is unfit for public office and should resign." The trouble began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, County Antrim. During the first two nights of disorder, 32 officers were injured and six people arrested. In Ballymena on Wednesday, smoke bombs, fireworks, bottles and bricks were thrown at police during a stand-off with a gathered crowd. A row of six police Land Rovers advanced on the crowd, with officers in full riot gear pushing a number of individuals back. Police also deployed dogs and a water cannon. Earlier on Wednesday it was confirmed that a significant number of extra police officers were being deployed into areas affected. Police Scotland has agreed to send officers, after police in Northern Ireland requested extra support under mutual aid arrangements.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Fire at leisure centre on third night of disorder in Northern Ireland
A fire broke out at Larne Leisure Centre following vandalism at the facility on the third night of disorder in Northern Ireland. Masked individuals smashed windows at the leisure centre in Co Antrim on Wednesday and set fires outside which spread inside. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the facility had been designated as an emergency rest centre for those in urgent need following disturbances in nearby Ballymena but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere. Police and firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control on Wednesday night. The fire coincided with a third night of public disorder in Ballymena, 30 minutes away from Larne. Dozens of police officers have been injured during the sustained unrest while multiple properties and vehicles have been set on fire. The PSNI deployed riot police for a third night in Ballymena as a significant crowd gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. At least one protester was struck by a plastic baton round fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd. Demonstrators who gathered on Bridge Street near the residential area were told to disperse shortly before 9pm after a firework was thrown at officers. Officers, who warned they would fire the plastic baton rounds at violent individuals, also used dog units and drones in their response to the gathering. Riot police with shields advanced on the crowd to disperse them down Bridge Street in the town. They came under sustained attack as those participating in disorder hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police vehicles and officers standing nearby. Elsewhere, social media footage appeared to show an established fire on train tracks running through Coleraine. Earlier, a senior officer said the PSNI had requested support from colleagues in the rest of the UK following further violence in Ballymena. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would be bringing extra officers, vehicles and equipment to areas where unrest has flared. He said there were disgraceful scenes in Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey on Tuesday, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged. By Wednesday, six individuals had been arrested for public order offences, and one charged. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he 'utterly condemns' violence which left 32 police officers injured after the second night of disturbances. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned that the rioting 'risks undermining' the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in Ballymena at the weekend. Stormont ministers have also made an urgent appeal for calm and said the justice process had to be allowed to take its course. Mr Henderson said the force had requested about 80 officers through mutual aid. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Sir Keir condemned the 'mindless attacks' against police. In a joint statement, ministers from across the Stormont powersharing Executive, which includes Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance Party and UUP, said those involved in disorder have nothing to offer society but 'division and disorder'. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly later appeared together to voice their condemnation. Sinn Fein vice-president Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast: 'It's pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up.' Ms Little-Pengelly described the scenes in Ballymena as 'unacceptable thuggery'. With the protests focused in predominantly loyalist areas in Ballymena, Ms O'Neill said she did not believe it would be helpful for her to visit in the current context. DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly met residents in the town on Wednesday and said the local community are in fear and wanted the violence to stop. 'The key message here today is around that violence, and that the violence needs to stop, that's what the community wants to put across, and that's why I'm here to send that very clear and united message from right throughout the community and local residents for that to stop,' she said. The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
UK tourist attraction has been closed almost as much as it's been open since £7.5m refurbishment
A tourist attraction in Northern Ireland that has had millions of pounds invested into it has been closed nearly as many days as it has been open over the past decade, an analysis has found. The Gobbins Cliff Path in Islandmagee, County Antrim is a walk made up of a series of steel bridges and paths running past caves and through a tunnel, allowing for visitors to get up close to the crashing Irish Sea waves, providing unique coastal views. The first stretch of dramatic coastal walk opened in 1902, designed by Edwardian engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, but fell into disrepair by the 1950s. After several failed attempts to revive the structure, a £7.5m investment saw the path reopen in 2015, adding several new bridges and gallery structures to the cliff face. While the cliff path experience was saved, new analysis by the BBC has found that this tourist attraction has been shut for almost half of the time that it has been open over the past 10 years. Since 2015 the Gobbins Cliff Path has been shut for a combined 1,624 days, or about 46 per cent of the time, according to figures released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act. There are several reasons why the path has shut, the largest being 503 days of planned works, 461 days of rockfall and 322 days of storm damage. Other closures included 53 days of Covid-19 restrictions and 150 days of inspections. The longest closure was for over a year from 19 June 2016 until 30 June 2017. Despite the long closures, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council says that around £4.3m has been spent to maintain the tourist attraction since 2017 on repairs and planned works. While the council said they are not able to provide figures on spending on the path before 2017, the BBC estimates at least £5.6m has been spent to maintain the tourist attraction since it reopened in 2015. The Gobbins Cliff Path is currently going through another period of closures following a recent rockfall. 'We have a team working to reopen the attraction as soon as possible,' the tourist attraction says on its website. 'The Visitor Centre and café will remain open.' 'We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will provide further information regarding the reopening of the Gobbins when available.' 'As this is a natural attraction built on rock faces in a difficult-to-access area, incidents such as rockfalls are beyond our control,' a council spokesperson added after its closure. Despite its unreliability, causing tour companies to leave it off their itineraries, some residents and tourists feel that the path is 'unique' and a 'brilliant idea', making it more of a shame when it is closed. Mother and daughter Isabella and Léa Petit Boyer, visiting Northern Ireland from France, told the BBC they had hoped to visit the path during a week-long trip. "It's a shame that we can't see this cliff," Léa said. "We first wanted to do the Gobbins Cliff Path because first of all the coast is really wonderful, [and] it's a great tourist attraction." Stephen Weir, an Islandmagee resident said the closure 'seems to be a regular occurrence'. "Hopefully it will be open and we'll get to do it later on in [the] year but you'd think coming into the summer season... now would be the time that it would be open." Other residents, however, such as Stephen Henry, said the cliff path is a 'waste of money.' Despite the closures, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is continuing to invest money into the Gobbins, with £13.5m in funding announced last year. The plan includes building a new 60m-high staircase, upgrades to the path and a new welcome hub. A council spokesperson told The Independent that the £13.6m investment will 'enhance the visitor experience by creating a new circular looped walk, which will significantly expand the attraction's capacity.' 'Once completed, the Phase II development is expected to deliver substantial economic and tourism benefits, including 245,000 cliff path visitor numbers annually, driving substantial growth in the local economy. 'The Gobbins will help disperse visitors more evenly along the iconic Causeway Coastal Route. This will not only enhance the experience for tourists but also ensure a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits throughout the region. 'The attraction is projected to break even within five years of the relaunch, marking an important milestone in its long-term sustainability,' the spokesperson continued. 'This Phase II development represents a significant step forward in enhancing The Gobbins' role as a key visitor destination in Northern Ireland, with lasting benefits for both the local economy and the tourism sector.'
The Independent
14-04-2025
- The Independent
UK tourist attraction has been closed almost as much as it's been open since £7.5m refurbishment
A tourist attraction in Northern Ireland that has had millions of pounds invested into it has been closed nearly as many days as it has been open over the past decade, an analysis has found. The Gobbins Cliff Path in Islandmagee, County Antrim is a walk made up of a series of steel bridges and paths running past caves and through a tunnel, allowing for visitors to get up close to the crashing Irish Sea waves, providing unique coastal views. The first stretch of dramatic coastal walk opened in 1902, designed by Edwardian engineer Berkeley Deane Wise, but fell into disrepair by the 1950s. After several failed attempts to revive the structure, a £7.5m investment saw the path reopen in 2015, adding several new bridges and gallery structures to the cliff face. While the cliff path experience was saved, new analysis by the BBC has found that this tourist attraction has been shut for almost half of the time that it has been open over the past 10 years. Since 2015 the Gobbins Cliff Path has been shut for a combined 1,624 days, or about 46 per cent of the time, according to figures released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act. There are several reasons why the path has shut, the largest being 503 days of planned works, 461 days of rockfall and 322 days of storm damage. Other closures included 53 days of Covid-19 restrictions and 150 days of inspections. The longest closure was for over a year from 19 June 2016 until 30 June 2017. Despite the long closures, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council says that around £4.3m has been spent to maintain the tourist attraction since 2017 on repairs and planned works. While the council said they are not able to provide figures on spending on the path before 2017, the BBC estimates at least £5.6m has been spent to maintain the tourist attraction since it reopened in 2015. The Gobbins Cliff Path is currently going through another period of closures following a recent rockfall. 'We have a team working to reopen the attraction as soon as possible,' the tourist attraction says on its website. 'The Visitor Centre and café will remain open.' 'We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will provide further information regarding the reopening of the Gobbins when available.' 'As this is a natural attraction built on rock faces in a difficult-to-access area, incidents such as rockfalls are beyond our control,' a council spokesperson added after its closure. Despite its unreliability, causing tour companies to leave it off their itineraries, some residents and tourists feel that the path is 'unique' and a 'brilliant idea', making it more of a shame when it is closed. Mother and daughter Isabella and Léa Petit Boyer, visiting Northern Ireland from France, told the BBC they had hoped to visit the path during a week-long trip. "It's a shame that we can't see this cliff," Léa said. "We first wanted to do the Gobbins Cliff Path because first of all the coast is really wonderful, [and] it's a great tourist attraction." Stephen Weir, an Islandmagee resident said the closure 'seems to be a regular occurrence'. "Hopefully it will be open and we'll get to do it later on in [the] year but you'd think coming into the summer season... now would be the time that it would be open." Other residents, however, such as Stephen Henry, said the cliff path is a 'waste of money.' Despite the closures, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is continuing to invest money into the Gobbins, with £13.5m in funding announced last year. The plan includes building a new 60m-high staircase, upgrades to the path and a new welcome hub. A council spokesperson told The Independent that the £13.6m investment will 'enhance the visitor experience by creating a new circular looped walk, which will significantly expand the attraction's capacity.' 'Once completed, the Phase II development is expected to deliver substantial economic and tourism benefits, including 245,000 cliff path visitor numbers annually, driving substantial growth in the local economy. 'The Gobbins will help disperse visitors more evenly along the iconic Causeway Coastal Route. This will not only enhance the experience for tourists but also ensure a more equitable distribution of tourism benefits throughout the region. 'The attraction is projected to break even within five years of the relaunch, marking an important milestone in its long-term sustainability,' the spokesperson continued. 'This Phase II development represents a significant step forward in enhancing The Gobbins' role as a key visitor destination in Northern Ireland, with lasting benefits for both the local economy and the tourism sector.'
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tourist attraction shut nearly as often as open
A Northern Ireland tourist attraction which has received millions for repairs and maintenance has been closed nearly as many days as it has open in the past decade. The Gobbins Cliff Path in Islandmagee, County Antrim reopened to the public in 2015. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council has spent about £4.3m since 2017 on repairs to the path, which has faced prolonged closures due to rockfalls, storm damage, planned works and inspections. A council spokesperson said the attraction is "projected to beak even" within five years of of a planned major revamp, which will mark "an important milestone in its long-term sustainability". The Gobbins first opened in 1902, designed by the engineer Berkeley Deane Wise. The cliff walk, made up of a series of bridges, paths and tunnels, had fallen into disrepair by the 1950s but a £7.5m investment saw it open again in 2015. Since 2015 the attraction has been shut for a combined 1,624 days, or about 46% of the time, according to figures released to the BBC under the Freedom of Information Act. The longest closure was for over a year from 19 June 2016 until 30 June 2017. A Scottish based company that offers tours of Northern Ireland said while they promote the Gobbins on their website, they haven't included it on tours due to its "unreliable" opening. Heather Rennie-McGill, director of marketing and sales at Rabbie's, said the Gobbins has "real potential" as a "unique attraction". "If we're selling tours six to twelve months out for customers, and something like this would be a key highlight because the tour lasts two and half to three hours which is a big chunk of a day, we'd need reliability," she said. "We can't include things in our itineraries where it would be taken out at the last minute." The path is currently closed due to a recent rockfall, the cost of repairs for which is not known. Mid and East Antrim Council have said they are not able to provide figures on spending on the path before 2017. The BBC has previously reported that essential maintenance costing £400,000 was carried out to fix the access path after damage caused by Storm Frank in 2015, with an additional £1.6m allocated for scaling works ahead of the 2017 season. This suggests that at least £5.6m has been spent to maintain the tourist attraction since it reopened. Mother and daughter Isabella and Léa Petit Boyer had hoped to visit the path during a week-long trip to Northern Ireland but were disappointed. "It's a shame that we can't see this cliff," Léa said. "We first wanted to do the Gobbins Cliff Path because first of all the coast is really wonderful, [and] it's a great tourist attraction." Stephen Weir, an Islandmagee resident said he and his wife had hoped to visit the path for his 60th birthday but couldn't due to it being closed. "It seems to be a regular occurrence," he said. "Hopefully it will be open and we'll get to do it later on in year but you'd think coming in to the summer season... now would be the time that it would be open." Stephen also questioned the economic viability of the site. "In theory it's a brilliant idea to get round there and see the birds and all that in their natural habitat but I mean especially in the current economic climate, I mean do we really need to spend all that money if it's not working?" Stephen Henry, who also lives in the borough, said he thinks the path is a "waste of money". "The rates are paying for it and it's for a service that's never open." He said that he had been to do the tour on a previous occasion when it was open. "It's nice to look at, there's no doubt about it. "But is it value for money? Probably not." Last year, Mid and east Antrim Borough Council announced an investment in the Gobbins of £13.5m, with £12.6 million coming from the Belfast Region City Deal. The plans include a new 60m-high staircase, a rope bridge and new cliff-top welcome hub. The current visitor centre is located a five minute drive from the path, with tours accessing the path via a shuttle bus service from the centre. The spending also includes plans to create a new virtual reality offering at the existing visitor centre for those who cannot access the path. A council spokesperson said that once completed, "the Phase II development is expected to deliver substantial economic and tourism benefits, including 245,000 cliff path visitor numbers annually, driving substantial growth in the local economy". White-knuckle cliff walk reopens Aerial view of restored Gobbins path Gobbins coastal path closed again
