Mid & East Antrim Connections - Autumn/Winter 2016/17

Mid and East Antrim Borough Residents’ Magazine

Larne’s friendship café 14 Making life easier for those living with dementia Inside: 07 Christmas bin collections

11 Win! Leisure centre membership

12 Winter events guide

Autumn/Winter 2017

Useful Numbers To contact Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, telephone

Tourism Arthur Cottage 028 2563 5010 Carrickfergus Marina 028 9336 6666 Glenarm Marina 028 2884 1285 Newferry Tourism Facility 028 2563 5010 Portglenone Marina 028 2563 5010 The Gobbins Visitor Centre 028 9337 2318 Visitor Information Centres Ballymena Visitor Information Centre 028 2563 5077 Carrickfergus Visitor Information Centre 028 9335 8222 Larne Visitor Information Centre 028 2826 2495 Cemetery Enquiries Ballymena 028 2563 3213 Carrickfergus 028 9335 8220 Larne 028 2826 2384 Parks & Open Spaces Carnfunnock Country Park 028 2826 2471

Bentra Golf Course 028 9337 8996 Leisure Centres Amphitheatre Carrickfergus 028 9335 8342 Larne Leisure Centre 028 2826 2497 Seven Towers Leisure Centre, Ballymena 028 2563 3382 Ballymena Showgrounds 028 2563 3290 Planning Area Planning Office 0300 200 7830 Waste, Street Cleansing and Recycling For all areas: Call 0300 124 5000 and choose option 0 Environmental Health Animal Welfare 028 2563 3134 (after 5pm or on weekends and holidays, call 07824 994490) Grants Community and volunteer grants – Ballymena 028 2563 3148 Community and volunteer grants – Carrickfergus and Larne 028 9335 8240

The People’s Park 028 2563 3342

Get in touch We are always looking at ways to make it easier for you to engage with us at Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

We welcome your queries, comments and suggestions.

You can contact us directly by telephone on 0300 124 5000 You can visit or write to us at any of the offices below: Ballymena (Headquarters) The Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena BT43 5EJ Ballymena Ardeevin, 80 Galgorm Road, Ballymena BT42 1AB Carrickfergus Civic Centre, 11 Antrim Street, Carrickfergus BT38 7DG Larne Smiley Buildings, Victoria Road, Larne BT40 1RU

Keep up-to-date You can keep up-to-date with us on social media. We use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share the latest news, events and information from Council.

MEA Borough Council twitter.com/mea_bc instagram.com/meaboroughcouncil

If you have any comments on the magazine, please contact: Communications Mid and East Antrim Borough Council Ardeevin 80 Galgorm Road Ballymena BT42 1AB If you would like this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, please contact us on communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5000.

This magazine is delivered to houses and businesses in the Borough. This includes BT43 7, BT43 6, BT38 7, BT38 9, BT38 8, BT43 5, BT42 4, BT42 3, BT42 2, BT42 1, BT40 3, BT40 2, BT40 1 as well as a large number of split postcode areas. If you live in the Borough and have not received a copy of this magazine in your post, please contact the Communications department.

Front Cover image: John Patterson and Louise Magill at Larne’s Prom Cafe - page 14

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

CUT OUT AND KEEP

0300 124 5000

Is it too early to get excited about Christmas?

Oh no it’s not! Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of Connections, the ratepayer magazine for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

We have a full list of festive activities on Pg 12 to help add some sparkle to these darker months.

And even though the days may be shorter, there are plenty of opportunities to appreciate the parks and open spaces in our Borough (Pg 18-19).

If you aren’t keen on braving the elements, then why not visit one of our leisure centres? Our facilities offer a wide range of programmes to help keep you fit regardless of your ability, and you can win a year’s free membership on Pg 11.

As this year ends and a new one begins, we remain committed to working together to create a better future for all in Mid and East Antrim.

07 11

Christmas bin collections

Win a year’s free membership to our leisure centres

Introducing...

Our Mayor for 2017/18 is Cllr Paul Reid. He was elected to office in June and will serve alongside Deputy Mayor Cllr Cheryl Johnston.

During his term in office, the Mayor has chosen to support the work of a number of mental health and addiction groups throughout the Borough.

The Mayor’s charitable cause ‘Building Stronger People’ will support the work of the Mid and East Antrim PCSP Drugs and Alcohol Steering Group.

Funds will be raised over the year with a variety of events.

To contact the Mayor’s Office, please call 028 2563 3398 or email Mayors.Office@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

12-13 14

Winter Events Guide

With a little help from my friends

Connections is approved by the Plain English campaign.

We have done our best to ensure all information is correct at the time of going to print.

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In Brief

In case you missed it...

It has been a busy year for Mid and East Antrim.

Here are just some of the projects that we have completed in 2017. To stay up to date with our news and events, make sure to follow us on social media, visit our website, and look out for details on our new email newsletter coming soon. We also advertise and promote our good news in the local newspapers throughout the area.

January: The Dr John McKelvey Community Centre re-opens in Cullybackey after a £250,000 refurbishment.

April: Two new compactors installed at Sullatober Household Recycling Centre, Carrickfergus.

Funded by the Rethink Waste fund, they will make the facility more user friendly and reduce the amount of trips our vehicles take to the recycling facility by over 50%.

May: The newly built £1.32m Harryville Community Centre and sport facility opens to accommodate football, badminton, bowling, circuit training and youth club facilities.

June: The new Summerfield Bridge opens in the peaceful surroundings of Ecos Nature Park, with local volunteers and school children helping to sow wildflowers on the bridge’s south bank.

June: The US Rangers Museum in Carrickfergus reopens after major refurbishment.

July: The Gobbins in Islandmagee reopens to the public after extensive safety work is completed.

July: Carnlough’s Natural Play Park opens with a focus on natural history and biodiversity.

October: The new Tullygarley play area in Ballymena opens as part of Council’s Play Strategy.

Other projects ready to go: An £800,000 co-funded revamp of Greenisland’s football pitches to include 3G facilities, floodlighting and parking.

A new £515,000 sports changing facility at Kells Playing Field.

A new £200,000 Multi-Use Games Area in Glenarm.

Work is being undertaken to upgrade the Ballymena Showgrounds pitch to European standards and to ensure the facility remains one of the best sporting grounds in Northern Ireland.

A new sports and community pavilion at Sandy Bay Pavilion, Larne, worth £1.5m.

New Citizens Advice office

Make a date If you need to register a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership in Mid and East Antrim, you now need to make an appointment in advance.

Appointments run from 9.30am to 4pm MondayFriday in Ballymena and Carrickfergus; and from 9.30am to 3.30pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Larne.

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To make an appointment, call 0300 124 5000 or email: Ballymena – registrar. ballymena@midand eastantrim.gov.uk Carrickfergus – registrar. carrickfergus@midand eastantrim.gov.uk Larne –registrar.larne@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Citizens Advice in Carrickfergus has relocated to Unit 1, 11 Antrim Street; with access via the Civic Centre. Hours are 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Contact reception on 028 96 001333 or for advice, call 0300 123 3233.

In Brief

Bid takes off for Heathrow Hub We have launched a bid to co-host a Heathrow Logistics Hub. The airport has agreed a £16billion expansion programme and, as part of the project, four logistics hubs are to be established throughout the UK to allow for offsite building of component parts. We have teamed up with our colleagues in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to lobby for the positioning of a hub locally.

The hub would be of huge strategic importance in regards to growing the local economy and creating jobs. We will keep you updated on the progress of this hugely exciting project in the months ahead.

‘Tis the season to shop local Support our traders this Christmas and shop local. Towns throughout the borough will be lit up with sparkle from November and there are activities happening to bring a festive cheer to our streets.

Switch On events will take place in Ballymena on Thursday 16 November, in Larne on Friday 17 November and in Carrickfergus on Saturday 18 November.

For more information, please see back cover.

Other dates for the diary Ballymena Discount Day, Thursday 2 November 9am-9pm Join shops in the town’s Business Improvement District for a festive fling.

With fantastic offers and a visit from the Cool FM roadshow team, the Discount Day is a great opportunity to make a dent in the present list.

Jingle all the Way, Saturday 25 November, Ballymena town centre The Northern Ireland

Hospice is hosting a family fun event with carnival parade and children’s party – helping to put a smile on everyone’s face.

Legacy fund to create jobs in Ballymena Council Chief Executive Anne Donaghy has been appointed to the Gallaher’s Trust Board of Directors.

The board will administer a £5million legacy fund intended to create jobs and stimulate economic development in Ballymena and the surrounding area Its work will also support disadvantaged adults locally.

Funding will be made available for a range of projects and scholarship grants to support, encourage and enable local people to access further education.

The Gallaher Trust was created following Japan Tobacco International’s (JTI) announcement it was vacating its Lisnafillan manufacturing facility.

Cross your legs!

Public toilets will be closed on 25 and 26 Dec and 1 Jan. Public toilets for events will be open as in previous years.

Small Business Saturday, 2 December. Feel good shopping for everyone.

Christmas entertainment, Carrickfergus town centre 2, 9, 16 December 1pm-3pm Join in the festivities with children’s entertainment and seasonal sounds.

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Waste and Village Renewal Recycling

Food waste changes set to save £200k Thank you to everyone who has supported our food waste campaign to help us reduce the amount we send to landfill. We began this campaign in April by asking you to put all your food waste into your brown bin or caddy – rather than your black bin.

We are now on track to deliver annual savings of £200,000.

Not only is this helping the environment, but these funds can now be diverted to other projects within Mid and East Antrim.

Your response in numbers:

What do I have to do?

Did you know?

5015 brown bins requested and delivered

Simply put all your food waste into your food caddy.

When it is full, empty in into your brown bin for collection. Three times a year we will deliver biodegradable bags with which you can line your caddies. You can also use newspaper or kitchen roll. Our waste operators monitor the contents of bins and place advisory stickers on black bins found to be contaminated with food waste. We operate a three strikes policy, meaning

It costs twice as much to dispose of food waste in a black bin as it does to recycle food waste from a brown bin.

7543 caddies requested and distributed 6593 helpdesk calls and 1909 recycling emails 1378 tonnes less waste sent to landfill in the first three months of 2017 compared to 2016. £200k – the expected annual savings to ratepayers.

Building hope through our recycling centres We have teamed up with two charities to give a new lease of life to reusable items discarded at our Household Recycling Centres.

Unwanted items which would otherwise have been 6

sent to landfill are being sent to Bridge of Hope, a social enterprise with centres in Portglenone and Ahoghill. This has raised more than £100,000 for charity and saved nearly £9000 of ratepayers’ money. So far,

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Unwanted food that ends up in landfill is the most polluting type of waste due to the release of harmful gases.

if we find food waste in your black bin three times, it will not be lifted until the food is removed.

For more information, please visit www. midandeastantrim.gov.uk/recycling, email recycling@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5000 and press option ‘0’.

this has helped to fund four schools, a church and a health clinic in West Africa.

In another partnership, Habitat for Humanity will be taking unwanted goods such as doors, fiberglass baths and DIY materials.

They will sell them through the Habitat ReStore in Ballymena, raising money to build hope and homes around the world at the same time as helping people locally to improve their homes at a price they can afford.

Waste and Recycling

Christmas Arrangements Bin Collections

Santa’s Little Recycler!

Got a little bit of excess waste in your home this Christmas? Help us to reduce landfill by recycling what you can.

Christmas trees

Wrapping paper

Small trees can be cut up and put in the brown bin. Larger ones can be brought to your local Household Recycling Centre for composting.

Wrapping paper is confusing as it is can be made from or laminated with plastic. Only wrapping which is 100% paper is suitable for recycling. If in doubt, salvage as much of it as you can and reuse next year.

Christmas Cards Cards are fine to recycle as long as they are 100% paper and don’t have a lot of other substances like glitter stuck to them.

You can also cut up cards to make gift tags for next year’s presents.

Buy wise How about buying someone a ticket to a concert or other event, giving them a memorable experience rather than a physical item?

Food waste Scrape all food waste into your kitchen caddy and/or brown bin.

No collections. Alternative collections will take place on Saturday 23 December. This includes kerbside boxes.

Tuesday 26 December 2017 Carrickfergus area No black and brown bin collections. Alternative collections will take place on Saturday 30 December.

No red and black kerbside box collections. Please leave out your kerbie boxes on the next collection day. You can put extra recyclables in a bag beside your kerbie (only one material per bag, no glass allowed).

Ballymena and Larne areas Normal collections for black, brown and blue bins BUT there will be no red and black kerbside box collections. Please leave out your kerbie boxes on the next collection day. You can put extra recyclables in a bag beside your kerbie (only one material per bag; no glass allowed).

Monday 1 January 2018 No black, brown or blue bin collections (blue bin Larne area only) AND no red and black kerbside box collections. Alternative bin collections will take place on Saturday 30 December

in Ballymena and Larne and Saturday 6 January in Carrickfergus. Alternative kerbside box collections will take place on Saturday 30 December in Ballymena and Carrickfergus area.

Packaging Take out any polystyrene and other plastic from cardboard boxes. Bring any polystyrene to a recycling centre as it can’t be collected from kerbie boxes and blue bins.

Polystyrene material will be marked with a number 6 on it.

Household Recycling Centres: New winter opening hours Redlands (Larne), Sullatober (Carrickfergus) and Waveney Road (Ballymena): MondaySaturday: 9am-5pm.

Sunday: 1pm-5pm.

Monday 25 December 2017

Larne South (Ballycarry): Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday: 9am5pm.

Glenarm: Wednesday and Saturday: 9am-5pm.

Trade Waste Monday 25 December 2017 No collections. Alternative collections will take place on Saturday 23 December.

Tuesday 26 December 2017 Carrickfergus area Ballymena and Larne area No collections. Alternative Normal collection collections will take place arrangements on Saturday 30 December.

Monday 1 January 2018 No collections. Alternative collections will take place in Ballymena on Saturday 30 December, Wednesday 3 January in Larne and Saturday 6 January in Carrickfergus.

Household Recycling Centres All household recycling centres will be closed on 25 and 26 December, as well as 1 January 2018.

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Economy

Ready to Go For It? Is it your dream to be self-employed? During the last year, we have supported over 145 entrepreneurs to develop their business plans through local enterprise agencies. One of them was Ian McCluggage…

After completing a degree in equine studies, Ian wanted to pursue his passion for all things equestrian while being his own boss. He soon found his way to our Go For It! programme, where a LEDCOM business advisor helped him work through all the key areas involved in writing a business plan.

Ian now trades as IM

Equestrian, providing a bespoke range of specialist services.

Ian said: “I found the help, guidance and encouragement to be invaluable and I would encourage anyone considering self-employment to seek advice and take the time to work on a practical business plan.”

If you want to find out more about Go For It!, contact 0800 027 0639 or visit www.goforitni.com

Going global With a degree in Environmental Science and no experience in graphic design, Danielle Gault was taking a real leap of faith when she came up with an idea to design and print Christian cards with words of encouragement from her home in Carrickfergus.

Founding Manna Cards, she set to work learning what she could about design and participating in our Go For It! Realise

Your Export Potential and our Overseas Results programmes.

Manna Cards has gone from eight local stockists to 60 stockists around the world, with Danielle’s products being sold as far away as India and Australia.

We offer a range of business support programmes to help grow new and established businesses. For more information, contact Economic.Development@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk.

North Street regeneration Have you spotted the spruced up shop fronts in Carrickfergus?

Thanks to £200,000 from the Department for Communities and match funding from Council, local shops were treated to a bit of cosmetic pampering earlier this year.

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The biggest improvement can be seen on North Street, where the former Northgate Bar was situated. This fire damaged property had become a derelict eyesore but now it has been completely transformed with the construction of a fake

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

façade designed and painted by a local artist to mimic the old bar.

The aim of this scheme was to give businesses a helping hand to clean and brighten up their shops and to encourage more trade into the town centre.

Economy

Good food, great business With over 1350 agri-food businesses in the Borough, we are creating a network that will get mouths watering….

Linda de Vecchis with her Linda’s Originals

Tom & Ollie showcasing their food at the NI Open

From beer-fed beef to luxury brownies, Mid and East Antrim is home to a vast number of artisan producers that serve up food and drink worthy of wider attention. But as many of these homegrown businesses know, the cost of getting yourself onto the world stage is often prohibitive. For the past year, our Economic Development unit has been helping local producers to showcase their fayres at prestigious events such as the Balmoral Show, the NI Golf Open and the BBC Good Food Show. We have helped by assisting with the cost of exhibition stands, arranging equipment and providing PR and Marketing support. Following on from these successes, we have been awarded nearly £14,000 to part fund the development of a Mid and East Antrim Food and Drink network.

The funding, which has come from the Northern Ireland Regional Food Programme, will help us

consult with the sector and develop a brand to collectively promote the region. We also aim to provide opportunities for members to grow their businesses through networking opportunities, meet the buyer events and regional showcases at high-profile food events.

One business owner who has already benefitted from this focus is Linda de Vecchis from Linda’s Originals. Linda was one of seven local producers to win a spot at the NI Food Pavilion at this year’s Balmoral Show, giving her a potential audience of over 40,000 people for her award-winning brownies and whiskey-infused sticky toffee puddings.

From exhibiting at the Balmoral Show, Linda not only made sales, but also grew her social media audience and took enquiries for wholesale opportunities.

We believe this type of business support not only helps with business growth, but will also put the area on the gourmet map, tempting visitors to spend time exploring the many food and drink experiences that we have to offer in the Borough.

We are actively seeking champions for the sector from our local area, as well as members to help shape the growth of our Food and Drink Network.

For more information, please visit www. midandeastantrim. gov.uk/foodanddrink

Did you know?

The agri-food sector in Mid and East Antrim accounts for 30% of our business base – we want to grow this!

Speaking after the event, Linda said: “I am a small business and run at as low a cost as possible. Had this not been subsidised by the Council, I would not have been able to afford the pitch when offset against sales return.”

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Tourism

And that’s a wrap!

Summer may be a distant memory for most of us, but we are pleased to report a great season for the Borough. Here’s a few of this year’s highlights.

Did you know?

The Gobbins

The top five visitor nationalities to The Gobbins this summer were Northern Irish, German, Irish, English and American.

The Gobbins re-opened to the public in June 2017 and proved to be one of Northern Ireland’s most daring and popular tourist attractions, with visitor numbers exceeding initial expectations and more tours being made available. Over the summer staff welcomed 9,354 visitors, with nearly

Staff in our Visitor Information Centres have responded to over 94,000 enquiries already this year, with 20% of them coming from outside of Northern Ireland.

half of these coming from more than 35 overseas countries. The walkway closed on September 3 for winter maintenance work and will open to the public again in Spring 2018. The Visitor Centre will remain open but the café may close depending on demand over the winter months.

Service with a smile The tables were turned on Mary McAuley when she was guest of honour at a Mayor’s Reception in October. For over 50 years, Mary has been welcoming thousands of visitors from across the world to the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough. Mary

was joined by friends and family as the Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid, paid tribute to her boundless enthusiasm and passion for her job, the hotel and her local area. Colleagues also threw a private party for Mary, who still works in the hotel three days a week.

Did you know?

Nearly 5 million viewers tuned into the BBC One Show when it broadcast from the Castle in August.

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Did you know?

The hotel, which dates back to 1848, was previously owned by former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and has a rich and colourful history and heritage.

Carrickfergus Castle It was a busy season for the historical attraction with tens of thousands of people visiting the Castle within the first eight months of the year. A new partnership between ourselves and the Department of Communities allowed the castle to offer extended opening hours for the first time; and the relocation of the Carrickfergus Visitor

Information Centre to within the castle ramped up footfall within the ramparts.

More visitors have been recorded at the Castle compared to last year, coming from 30 different countries including Brazil, India, Japan and even Tristan da Cunha (a remote group of volcanic islands in the south Atlantic Ocean – yes, we Googled it too).

Leisure Centres

Happy new you With Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, now is as good a time as any to start getting your health and fitness on track.

We have three leisure centres in the Borough, each of which offers an excellent range of facilities and classes to appeal to every level of activity.

Each centre has a dedicated team of staff who provide safe, friendly and inclusive environments, offering support to people of all abilities who want to achieve their health and wellness goals.

Whatever your goal or your budget, we have a payment option to suit you. You can pay as you

go, or make use of one of the membership packages on offer this year. Membership allows members to benefit from access to: • Swimming pools • Health and Fitness suites • Kinesis™ suite (Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus) • Use of all three leisure centres in the borough Additional membership benefits include: • Free induction and fitness plans • Flexible payment options • No fixed contract • No admin fees

Visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/leisure-centres for more information on memberships, pay-as-you-go prices and concessionary groups.

Or why not visit your local leisure centre and speak to a member of our reception team, who will tell you about the options available?

Amphitheatre Wellness Centre

Seven Towers Leisure Centre

Larne Leisure Centre

Prince William Way Carrickfergus BT38 7HP 028 9335 8342

Trostan Avenue Ballymena BT43 7BL 028 2563 3382

28-30 Tower Road Larne BT40 1AB 028 2826 2497

Win a year’s leisure centre membership!

We are offering a year’s free membership to our leisure centres for one lucky winner.

To enter, simply answer the following question and fill out your details below.

HOW MANY LEISURE CENTRES DOES COUNCIL OPERATE IN MID AND EAST ANTRIM? 1 3 OR 5 ?

NAME

TELEPHONE NO.

You can email your answer and details to us at communications@midandeastantrim.gov.uk or cut out this box and post it to us at:

ADDRESS

Lesiure Centre Competition, Communications, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, 80 Galgorm Road, Ballymena, BT42 1AB.

Terms and Conditions All entries must be received by 12noon on Friday 5 January 2018. No Mid and East Antrim Borough Council employee may enter. You must live within the Borough. No cash alternative. We comply with the Data Protection Act 1998 and will only use the information you provide on this form to respond to you about the competition.

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Events

Winter Events Guide November Join us as we turn on the sparkle in Ballymena, Larne and Carrickfergus town centres to mark the beginning of the festive shopping season.

Full details of the lights switch on events on the back cover.

Painting Pictures in my Mind: Celebrating the 1950s & 1960s 1 Nov – 6 Jan, Mid Antrim Museum, The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

The exhibition focuses on local life in the 1950s and 1960s. It has grown from a reminiscence project delivered by Mid Antrim Museum and Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership.

Carrickfergus Art Club Autumn Exhibition

Luther 9 Nov, 9pm McNeill Theatre, Larne Leisure Centre Admission £12, concession £10 500 years ago, Martin Luther nailed a document to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany and changed the world forever.

Join us for a production of ‘Luther’ by John Osborne, an award-winning play presented by Centre Stage Theatre Company.

To book visit www. ticketsource.co.uk/ larnemuseumandarts SPECIAL EVENT

Heavens Above 10 Nov – 4 Jan 2018, Free admission.

Carrickfergus Museum.

A spectacular astrophotography exhibition on loan from the Irish Astronomical Association. Features stunning images as well as a special display of astronomical objects.

Launch Event Friday 10 November, 7pm. The Night Sky talk, followed by a stargazing event (weather permitting) and access to the Stardome.

The Stardome is also open on Saturday 11 November, 2-4pm. £2 per person.

Songs from the Heart 11 Nov, 7.30pm.

Admission: £10 The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena Bravehearts NI presents a gala evening of song hosted by local singer Paddy McNally.

Bravehearts NI is a local charity set up to support the needs of teenagers and young adults in Northern Ireland living with congenital heart disease.

Jordanstown Art Club Winter Exhibition 15 – 29 Nov, Free admission.

Carrickfergus Museum.

Featuring an eclectic mix of works from local artists.

Braid Real Music Club presents Liam Ó Maonlaí 18 Nov, 8pm, Admission: £10, The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena A great night for music lovers featuring the lead singer of the Hothouse Flowers.

An exhibition of works by local artists.

For more information please contact 028 9335 8241

The Alternative Medicine Theatre presents children’s favourite Beauty and the Beast. All ticket proceeds will

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

SPECIAL EVENT

Whitehead Victorian Street Fair 25 Nov, from 12noon Join in the festive fun as the pretty coastal village switches on its lights in true Victorian style. There will be a street fair, walking tours, magic shows, food stalls, choirs, pipe bands, steam trains and more.

For more information, call Whitehead Community Association on 028 9337 8077 or email whiteheadca @btconnect.com

Beauty and the Beast 23 – 25 Nov, 7.30pm.

A 1.30pm matinee will take place on 25 Nov. Admission £8 (£5 concessions) The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena

27 Oct – 4 Nov, Free admission.

Carrickfergus Museum.

be donated to Bravehearts NI with a contribution to Ballymena Bears.

A History of Irish Dance 28 Nov, 7pm.

Free admission.

Events

Studio Theatre, The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

Author and dancer Angeline King will give a talk on the dancing tradition of Ireland and how it has changed over time

Greenisland Christmas Switch On

Booking essential.

Carrickfergus Museum.

Explore 17th Century Carrickfergus and complete festive themed tasks in our special workshops.

To book, call 028 9335 8241 or email carrickfergusmuseums@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk

30 Nov, 7pm-8pm, Greenisland Community Centre.

Carrickfergus Photographic Society Christmas Exhibition

Join us for singing and sparkle as we switch on the tree lights.

11 – 23 Dec, Free admission.

Carrickfergus Museum.

December

Featuring a stunning array of photographs by local photographers.

Little Miss Muffet’s Christmas Caper Pantomime 2 – 5 Dec Admission: £2 Carrickfergus Town Hall To book tickets, call 028 9335 8222 SPECIAL EVENT

Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale 8 – 21 Dec, matinee and evening shows available.

The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

A pantomime version of the popular fairytale Rapunzel, alongside a sing-a-long screening of the Disney movie Tangled.

Visit www.thebraid.com for details.

Carrickfergus Christmas Minecraft 9 Dec. £10 (1hr 45min session for ages 8-12) or £7.50 (1hr session for ages 6-8).

Traditional Christmas at the Andrew Jackson Cottage 16 Dec, 11am - 3pm Free Admission Post your letter to Santa and meet his reindeer!

With traditional food and kids’ craft.

Call Visitor Information on 028 9335 8222.

Christmas Country Showtime 29 Dec, 7.30pm.

Admission: £16.50.

The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

Topping the bill is Ireland’s first lady of country Susan McCann, plus Joe Moore and Boxcar Brian, Gary Gamble and more.

4 Jan 2018, 8pm. £20.

The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena Start 2018 with this glittering tribute to Vienna and Strauss which is a true delight for the eyes and ears. Featuring a stunning programme of whirling waltzes and sweeping melodies accompanied by guest artists, let the luscious bars of the Blue Danube Waltz leave your heart beating in triple time.

February You Must Be Joking 3 Feb, 8pm.

Admission: £22 The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

This show is comedy stand-up heaven starring Jimmy Cricket, May McFettridge, William Caulfield, Gene Fitzpatrick and John Linehan.

SPECIAL EVENT

Rock ‘n’ Roll Years and Dance Hall Days 10 Feb, 8pm, Admission: £20.

The Braid Arts Centre, Ballymena.

January Exploring Your Roots Exhibition 13 Jan – 3 Mar, Free admission.

Carrickfergus Museum.

An exhibition exploring how museums can be a treasure trove for those interested in exploring their family history.

The Rock ’n’ Roll Years and Dance Hall Days show is back with a brand new show featuring George Jones, Clubsound and four wonderful singers.

Chinese New Year

31 Jan, 11am Chaine Memorial Road, Larne

Welcome to the Year of the Dog! In partnership with the Interethnic Forum for Mid and East Antrim, we will be celebrating Chinese New Year in Ballymena with the traditional Chinese Dragon and other activities. Keep an eye on our website and on social media for further information nearer the time.

Marking the 65th anniversary of the loss of the MV Princess Victoria ferry, one of the UK’s worst peacetime sea disasters.

For more events and information, visit www. midandeastantrim.gov. uk/events

Princess Victoria Memorial Service

SPECIAL EVENT

The Ulster Orchestra Viennese Concert 2018 13

Community Planning

The friendship café Nearly 20,000 people are living with dementia in Northern Ireland. As a Council, we are committed to improving services and living conditions for those affected. Here, we take a look at just some of the support that is available in Mid and East Antrim.

“I’m looking forward to the pay cheque coming through for this,” laughs John Patterson as the photographer asks him to pose once more with Louise Magill from Larne’s Prom Café. They are our tea-sipping cover stars for this edition of Connections, brought together under circumstances that are at odds with the jovial atmosphere of the photoshoot.

John was diagnosed three years ago with Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 67.

Louise, who lost both her parents to the disease, is a founding member of the Prom Friendship Café, a group that meets on the last Tuesday of every month to provide a safe and happy space for those affected by the disease and those who care for them.

Today, they are having an afternoon tea worthy of The Ritz. Over 30 guests are expected and the laughter and conversation hums louder as everyone arrives.

If it wasn’t for the t-shirts worn by the volunteers pouring tea it would be

difficult to guess there was such a debilitating condition uniting them.

The volunteers include Patricia and Lauren Small, a mother and daughter team who started volunteering to give something back after they kept hearing of so many people getting diagnosed.

“It is really rewarding. When we have music, they really enjoy that and their faces light up. But it can be sad to see friends go downhill over time,” says Patricia.

Lauren, a student nurse, adds: “It’s good for the carers too. Sometimes they have had a really hard day and then they come here and end up laughing about something silly they did with others who can understand what they are going through.”

"I just have to do what I can every day to keep myself positive" - John Patterson

John Patterson and Louise McGill

John Patterson and Louise Magill The Prom Friendship Café is just one of the many services supported by the Alzheimer’s Society in Northern Ireland. They also run a Side-by-Side service, matching volunteers with people with dementia to help them reconnect with their favourite pastimes and to reduce their isolation and loneliness. John’s volunteer is Hannah, and every other Saturday they spend a couple of hours walking and visiting places like Carnfunnock Country Park and the Jubilee Woods.

A cup of tea and a walk in a park may seem too simple to make a difference, but for people whose lives have been turned upside down by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, perhaps it is the simple things that matter the most. “I didn’t choose to have this,” says John. “But here I am and I just have to do what I can every day to keep myself positive. It is so important. I don’t know how long I have like this. Groups like this help, they are a good bunch and it is good craic. You get a laugh.”

For more information and support: Alzheimer’s Society provides information and services to enable people with dementia and their carers to live well and feel supported. For more information on services available, please contact: nir@alzheimers.org.uk or 028 9066 4100.

For immediate support or information contact 14

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Alzheimer’s Society Helpline - 0300 222 1122.

The Helpline is open 9am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 9am-5pm Thursday and Friday and 10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

To find out about Dementia NI, contact 028 9068 6768 or email info@dementiani.org

Community Planning

Larne businesses trained to help The Prom Café is one of 42 businesses and community groups in Larne who have taken part in training to make the town a ‘dementia friendly community’.

As part of our Community Plan in action, the training encourages the entire community to ensure people with dementia feel understood, valued and able to contribute. This can help those affected to continue taking part in their normal activities and help them maintain their independence for longer.

We would like to thank the businesses for allowing staff the time to take part, as well as to John McErlane

of Dementia NI, who gave a first-hand account of what it is like to live with the disease. We were inspired by his words and by the community spirit of all those who attended.

This training to create a ‘dementia friendly Larne’ has been a partnership between Dementia NI, Alzheimer’s Society, Northern Health and Social Care Trust and ourselves.

We are working on plans to connect dementia groups in other towns and villages throughout the Borough, and to roll out the Dementia Friendly Town training to Carrickfergus and Ballymena.

Volunteers needed for Side by Side service John Patterson and Louise McGill

Volunteers Patricia and Lauren Small at the Prom Friendship Cafe

Alzheimer’s Society is looking for volunteers to help people with dementia reconnect with their favourite pastimes and alleviate their isolation and loneliness. The Side

by Side service pairs people with dementia with volunteer partners, who then join them in a social activity such as playing golf, visiting a restaurant

or going shopping. The society provides free training, ongoing support and reimbursement of expenses for all volunteers.

If you have four hours per month that you can offer please get in touch with Aisleen Hamill, Side

by Side Coordinator, on 028 93 36 2940 or email eastantrim@alzheimers. org.uk

Did you know?

In 2015 19.5% of the population in Mid and East Antrim was aged 65 and over. By 2030 this figure will have increased to 21.9%, the second highest level in Northern Ireland.

Our Putting People First Community Plan places a huge strategic importance on responding to our ageing population.

By becoming a dementia friendly

borough, we have an opportunity to achieve the Community Planning vision of Mid and East Antrim being a ‘strong, vibrant, safe and inclusive community’.

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PSCP

Signposting the way to a brighter future A pioneering new lifeline service connecting vulnerable people to crisis support services has been launched in Mid and East Antrim. The scheme helps signpost those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and their families, to vital support services.

Special cards, designed to be carried in wallets and purses, feature emergency numbers which act as central points of contact when specialist help and intervention is needed.

The cards have been circulated to frontline workers including police, firefighters, paramedics and counsellors – and is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland.

Kathleen Grego, from Ballymena-based charity Start360, said the cards were already proving an invaluable tool in addressing complex issues caused by addiction. She said: “Increasing awareness of drug and alcohol support among emergency service staff will benefit their knowledge and the outcomes for service users.”

PSNI, Northern Drugs and Alcohol Co-Ordination Team, Northern Ireland Housing Executive, the Regional Service User Network and leading charities and outreach organisations including

Start360, Extern, Ascert, Turning Point, the Hope Centre, the Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm (PIPS), Preventing Addiction Larne and Addiction NI.

For more information on the scheme or on Mid and East Antrim PCSP, call 0300 124 5000

The card hotline initiative was developed by the Mid and East Antrim Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) Drug and Alcohol Steering Group, which identified needs and gaps in service areas across the Borough.

The umbrella body includes representatives from the

Wise up to Scammers At this time of year, people may call at your door selling goods or services such as power washing paths or clearing out guttering. Follow these tips from ScamwiseNI to help you avoid being a victim of a rogue trader.

If someone calls at your door:

then ring three or more other traders to get an average price.

• Remember traders must give you written notice of your right to 14 days cancellation when agreeing to do work at your home, including work gained from a cold call.

• Always check the company they say they’re from.

• If you are in doubt, just say no and don’t agree to services or goods from doorstep callers.

• Do not agree to work on the spot. Always ask for the quote in writing and

Find out more at www.nidirect.gov.uk/ campaigns/scamwiseni

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

It’s good to talk If you are struggling to cope with any issue at all, please talk to someone. Here are some numbers that might help:

Lifeline 0808 8088 000 The Samaritans 116 123 Childline 0800 1111 Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677

Health & Wellbeing

Thar she blows!

We welcomed a remarkable sportswoman to Carrickfergus Marina in the summer in super sailor Natasha Lambert.

Natasha was sailing from Portpatrick in Scotland to Dublin across the Irish Sea. The nineteen-year-old has athetoid cerebral palsy, meaning messages from the brain do not arrive at the muscles.

Her yacht ‘Miss Isle’ has been adapted specially by her father, with the twin rudders and sail trim being redesigned to operate from a pipe which Natasha operates by puffing, sipping, sucking or blowing.

super helpful and it has great facilities including very good disabled facilities which were very much appreciated.

Along with her support team, Natasha enjoyed her stopover in Mid and East Antrim. She said: “Carrickfergus marina was excellent! The team was

Want to have a go? Belfast Lough Sailability brings the joy of sailing to disabled and disadvantaged people across Northern Ireland.

Find out more at www. belfastloughsailability.com

“Challenges like this are not just about the sailing but also about the logistics.

Having the help and support of the team especially with accessibility issues makes the challenge possible.

I hope more people take up their own challenges too as everyone benefits by making new friends and learning how to figure out problems together.”

John Patterson and Louise McGill

Natasha Lambert in Carrickfergus

We couldn’t agree more.

Greenisland Greenway gets 25k boost A 2.7km greenway linking Greenisland and Monkstown is one step closer after Council secured £25,000 funding from the Department of Infrastructure.

The funding, allocated under Stage 3 of the Small Grants Programme for Greenways, will allow us to

develop a detailed design and full business case for the proposal.

Greenways can provide safe and easy access to fresh air and exercise by encouraging more people to walk or cycle on their everyday journeys on a traffic free route.

The success in securing this grant will enable us to bid for 75% funding to see the project through to completion. We are one of only three councils in Northern Ireland to reach this stage of securing funding to develop greenways in their areas.

Glenarm walking trail We are exploring opportunities to open up an extended loop walk around Glenarm, taking in Batchelor’s Walk and a nature reserve at Straidkilly.

Preliminary discussions have taken place between Council, the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust and Glenarm Castle Estate, with the proposed

path including a 3km nature trail. This is part of our commitment to deliver under the key theme of Good Health and Wellbeing in our Community Plan, and will hopefully provide people with easy access to our Borough’s natural environment in a sustainable way.

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Parks and Open Spaces

Best of the bunch!

Thanks to everyone who entered our Mid and East Antrim In Bloom competition earlier this year and brightened up our Borough. Here are the winning entries: Best Kept Front Garden Winner: Elizabeth Boyd, Cullybackey

Best Kept Front Container Garden Winner: Eric Bailey, Islandmagee

Runners-Up: John O’Neill, Carrickfergus; Janet Wilson, Ballymena

Runners-Up: Josie Adams, Whitehead; Alex Foye, Larne

Best Kept Commercial Premises Winner: The Nest, Broughshane

Gardening for Wildlife Award Winner: Julie Hayes, Ballymena

Runners-Up: The Smithfield Arms, Ballymena; Martha & Mary’s Vintage Tea Room, Ahoghill

Runners-Up: Cullybackey Community Partnership; Charles Sheils Charity, Carrickfergus

In praise of our parks Eight of our parks have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award. This is an internationally recognised benchmark standard for high quality parks and green spaces. Our award-winning spaces are Bashfordsland Wood and Oakfield Glen, Carnfunnock Country Park, Carrickfergus Mill Ponds, Shaftesbury Park and 18

Marine Gardens, Diamond Jubilee Wood, Dixon Park, Ecos Nature Park, Eden Allotment Gardens and The People’s Park.

Our Parks Supervisor, Jackie Waide, won the Green Flag Northern Ireland Employee of the Year award. It is a great honour to be recognised at this level and we thank him for all his hard work and effort.

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Best Kept Community Planting Scheme Winner: Windsor Community Garden, Whitehead Runners-Up: Ballygally Biodiversity Group; Lizzies Flower Bed, Glenarm

Best Kept Allotment Garden Winner: Adrian Johnston, Greenisland Allotment Gardens Runners-Up: Stephen Hanna, Eden Allotment Gardens; Alfie Hamilton, Larne Allotment Gardens

Thank you!

A big thank you to the local communities who enjoy our parks and open spaces, get involved in our events and activities and treat the sites with the respect they deserve.

Parks and Open Spaces

Tree-mendous trees Join us in celebrating Tree Week in Mid and East Antrim! We are organising a number of events and activities to help us appreciate them in all their leafy glory.

Tree Fact #1 Possibly the tallest tree in the Borough is a giant redwood in Oakfield Glen, standing at 150ft in height. Once part of a countryman’s residence built in the early 1800s, you can still see remnants of the old ice house and some interesting exotic specimens in the former gardens.

His body was buried in the graveyard along with a Spanish chestnut that was in his pocket.

Tree Fact #2 A tree in the graveyard of St Patrick’s Church of Ireland at Cairncastle is said to have grown out of the grave of a Spanish sailor. Legend has it as the Spanish Armada was being chased from the English Channel in 1588, one of the ships was sunk and a sailor washed ashore.

Tree Fact #4 We have two community orchards at Greenisland Allotment Gardens and Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead. The orchards are planted with native species of apple, pear, plum, berries and nuts. The produce is free for everyone to harvest and enjoy!

Tree Fact #3 We are committed to planting native tree species including holly, hazel, hawthorn, oak, ash and elder.

Do you have any interesting tree stories from around the borough? If so, please share them with us by emailing parks@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Tree week events Saturday 18 November Big Community Plant Out, Ahoghill New Park (at the Community Centre), 11am - 2pm Join us for a big community plant out to launch Tree Week! Plant a native hedge full of winter berries, build robin bird boxes and homes for bees, and enjoy beelicious hedgerow food and drink.

Saturday 25 November Wreath Making, Dixon Park, 11am - 1pm Make your very own wreath from all natural materials.

Sunday 26 November Coppicing and Countryside Crafts, Ecos Nature Park, 11am - 2pm.

Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management. Come and learn this practical skill and make countryside crafts with the coppiced wood.

Sunday 3 December Celebrate the Christmas Hedgerow, Diamond Jubilee Wood, 11am - 2pm Hedgelaying is a traditional land management technique.

Come and learn this ancient skill and enjoy other activities including building nest boxes and homes for bees, and enjoy beelicious hedgerow food and drink.

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Environmental Health

Winter proof your home Are you having problems with dampness or condensation in your home? We can provide advice and, if you live in a rented property, we can help establish the cause of your problem and speak to your landlord on your behalf if necessary.

What is damp?

Dampness is water coming into your home from the outside such as rising damp or penetrating damp from missing roof tiles, leaking pipes or loose window frames. New houses can also have damp if they are still drying out.

It can take weeks of heating and ventilation to remove damp from your home.

Top tips for removing mould caused by damp: • Wipe down walls and window frames with an anti-fungus wash which carries an approval number from the Health

and Safety Executive.

Or use a weak bleach solution of one part bleach to nine parts cold water and let it air dry.

• Dry clean mildewed clothes.

• Shampoo carpets.

• Use a good quality antifungus paint on walls and ceilings.

• Use a dehumidifier.

• Reduce the moisture in your home to prevent mould from returning.

You can do this by covering boiling pans, dry washing outdoors or in the bathroom with the door closed and the windows open, and vent tumble dryers to remove warm moist air.

FROZEN

PIPES

CAN FLOOD HOMES Insulate your pipes properly this winter

Find out more at niwater.com/winter 545201 NIW WEATHER OUTDOOR3.indd 1

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Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

18/09/2017 11:32

What is condensation?

Condensation is water on the inside trying to get out. It often forms on north-facing walls, cold surfaces, near or on windows, in or behind cupboards or wardrobes, and in areas or rooms with poor air circulation. It causes black mould with a speckled appearance. You can help get rid of condensation by increasing ventilation: • Open a small window or trickle ventilator in the room you are using.

• Open windows in your kitchen and bathroom when you are cooking and washing.

• Use a humidistat (controlled electric fan)

which works automatically with humid air.

• Close your kitchen and bathroom doors to prevent moisture reaching other rooms.

• Cut ‘breather’ holes in wardrobe and cupboard doors and backs.

• Leave space between wardrobe backs and walls.

• Position wardrobes and furniture against internal walls.

• Make sure any new window frames are fitted with trickle ventilators.

For more information on our Warm Homes scheme, call 028 2826 2383 (Larne and Carrickfergus areas) or 028 2826 2367 (Ballymena areas).

Animal Welfare

Want a dog for Christmas?

There are many good reasons to share your life with a pooch, but please take time to consider if it is right for you. If it is, make sure you think about what breed will best fit into your lifestyle. Here are some top tips from our Animal Welfare team: Costs Can you afford a dog?

To look after a dog well, you will need to pay for vaccinations, ongoing veterinary care, food, toys, micro-chipping, licensing, boarding and dog grooming.

TLC time Do you have time to provide your dog with the attention and care it needs to thrive? This includes walking it daily whatever the weather.

Which breed?

Choose a dog that matches your mobility.

Smaller dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers need less exercise than larger breeds like huskies.

Palace pets Is your house big enough for the type of dog you are getting? Do you have an enclosed garden? Does your landlord even allow pets? Think about all this before you bring it home.

The search for the perfect pooch We don’t encourage buying pets as Christmas presents, we’d rather you considered rehoming or adopting a dog from a charity or sanctuary. There are plenty of dogs in need of a ‘forever family’ – maybe there’s one just waiting for you.

If you do choose to buy a puppy from a breeder, make sure to: • see the mother and father yourself;

• check the dog’s age; • check the dog’s nose and eyes to see if they are free from discharge; • ensure the dog is bright and alert; and • ensure a vaccination card is provided. Then phone the vet to confirm that the dog has had vaccinations.

You should never buy dogs from car parks or markets, or anywhere resembling a ‘puppy farm’. All premises breeding dogs are required to be licensed by council, therefore ask to see a copy of the breeders’ licence before you purchase.

Should you have concerns regarding the welfare of any dog please contact our Animal Welfare Service on 028 25 633 134.

Did you know?

It is a legal requirement that all dogs are licensed by their keeper.

Dog licences can be bought from Council offices or online. They cost £12.50 per year (£5 if your dog is neutered or if you are on certain benefits).

To license your dog, you must provide evidence that it has been micro-chipped.

Not licensing your dog carries a maximum fixed penalty of £80.

For more information, visit www.midandeast antrim.gov.uk/dogs

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Corporate

Embracing good customer service Keep an eye out for our new Customer Service Charter which will be appearing in venues across the Borough. It outlines our commitment to deliver excellent Council services to you as citizens and customers. In Mid and East Antrim, we have many examples of excellent performance, from Green Flag status parks to venues receiving Tripadvisor Certificates of Excellence for consistently achieving outstanding reviews.

All of these are made possible by staff who carry out their jobs with passion and commitment. We will continue to embrace the principles of this charter as we work together to create a better future for all.

Customer Service Charter Our vision in Mid and East Antrim is 'Working Together to Create a Better Future for All'.

We believe that maintaining a strong customer focus is essential to delivering excellent Council services. This charter sets out what you can expect from us.

Our People • Will be polite, friendly and helpful • Will listen and treat you with dignity and respect at all times • Will apologise when things go wrong and where possible make it right.

Our Facilities

Our Services

Our Customers

• Will be easy to access and find

• Will be easy to use and access

• Will treat our staff with dignity and respect

• Will be clean and comfortable

• Will continue to improve

• Will be open at the published times.

• Will be well promoted and information will be easy to understand.

• Will provide us with the information we need to help

• Will be fairly priced

• Will let us know where we can improve.

Working together to create a better future for all

If you feel we are not meeting our commitments as set out in our charter, or if you have any ideas as to how we can improve, we want to hear from you.

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

How are we doing?

Making our services more accessible

We are required by law to continuously improve the services we deliver and measure our performance against specific targets. In Mid and East Antrim, this means specifically breaking down how we are going to achieve our vision of creating a better future for all. In September, we published our performance results for the first time to let you see how we are doing as a Council. You can read all our results at www.midandeastantrim. gov.uk. Look out for more details in the next issue of Connections, due out in March 2018.

We have been working with Campaigners Active Network (CAN) to help us learn how we can make small changes to help improve services for people who are blind or partially sighted. In October, we joined together for a walkabout in Ballymena town centre to identify any potential difficulties in the public realm scheme, and we are introducing tactile plaques for bins and recycling boxes to enable

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residents with visual impairments to differentiate between the colours.

Also, all council publications, including this magazine, are available in an alternative format such as braille, large print or on CD. To request this or a plaque for your bin, please contact our Policy Team on policy@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk or call 0300 124 5000

Do you know of any little (or big) changes which would make things easier for disabled people in our Borough?

If so, please contact policy@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

Mid and East Antrim Connections Autumn/Winter 2017

Elected Members

Your Council Ballymena Cllr Donna Anderson UKIP cllr.anderson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07541 830 589 Ald John Carson DUP ald.carson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07891 338 220

40 Councillors, elected in seven District Electoral Areas, working together to create a better future for all in Mid and East Antrim Borough.

Ald William McNeilly UUP ald.mcneilly@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07746 157 674

Cllr Cheryl Johnston DUP cllr.johnston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07545 151 992

Cllr Paul Sinclair Alliance cllr.sinclair@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07779 895 013

Ald Tommy Nicholl MBE DUP ald.tnicholl@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07970 012 520

Cllr Noel Jordan UKIP cllr.jordan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07775 633 391

Cllr Andrew Wilson UUP cllr.awilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07414 478 808

Braid

Cllr Robin Stewart UUP cllr.rstewart@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07391 863 571

Larne Lough

Cllr Reuben Glover DUP cllr.glover@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07733 100 803

Cllr Beth Adger MBE DUP cllr.adger@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07976 533 483

Cllr James Henry Independent cllr.jhenry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 028 2565 2456

Coast Road

Cllr Robert Logan Alliance cllr.logan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07565 168 191

Ald Robin Cherry MBE UUP ald.cherry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07785 752 712

Cllr James McKeown Sinn Féin cllr.mckeown@ midandeastantrim.org 07719 335 416

Ald Gregg McKeen DUP ald.mckeen@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07944 641 251

Cllr Stephen Nicholl UUP cllr.snicholl@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07967 621 603

Cllr Beth Clyde DUP cllr.clyde@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07724 906 855

Ald Maureen Morrow UUP ald.morrow@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07765 146 013

Cllr Dr Mark McKinty UUP cllr.mckinty@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07771 925 546

Cllr Declan O’Loan SDLP cllr.oloan@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07764 220 533

Cllr Brian Collins TUV cllr.collins@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07745 220 564

Ald Gerardine Mulvenna Alliance ald.mulvenna@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07970 896 367

Cllr Paul Reid DUP cllr.reid@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07713 511 407

Cllr Audrey Wales MBE DUP cllr.wales@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07899 985 110

Ald Sam Hanna DUP ald.hanna@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07710 402 693

Cllr Ruth Wilson TUV cllr.rwilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07771 965 206

Cllr Andy P Wilson UUP cllr.apwilson@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07754 963 615

Bannside

Cllr Paul Maguire Independent cllr.maguire@ midandeastantrim.org 07857 912 097

Cllr Angela Smyth DUP cllr.smyth@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk ​07896 657 723

Find out more about your local councillors at www.midandeastantrim. gov.uk/councillors

Cllr William McCaughey DUP cllr.mccaughey@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07739 875 626

Knockagh

Cllr Timothy Gaston TUV cllr.gaston@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07514 213 186 Cllr Patrice Hardy Sinn Féin cllr.hardy@ midandeastantrim.org 07935 228 722

Carrick Castle

Ald May Beattie DUP ald.beattie@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07939 634 348

Cllr Billy Henry DUP cllr.bhenry@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07599 400 857

Cllr Billy Ashe DUP cllr.ashe@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07773 095 133

Cllr Lynn McClurg DUP cllr.mcclurg@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07794 602 517

Ald Stewart McDonald TUV ald.mcdonald@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07793 848 107

Cllr James Brown MBE Independent seejbrown@hotmail.com 07939 634 369

Cllr Lindsay Millar UUP cllr.millar@ midandeastantrim.gov.uk 07540 399 685 23

Christmas Lights Switch On Events in Mid and East Antrim Ballymena

Larne

Join us in our new location at the bandstand for a festive switch on and a special broadcast of this year’s eagerly anticipated Christmas TV ad. There will be a reindeer parade, musical acts, Christmas characters, lantern parade, and seasonal food and craft stalls plus much more. Shops will also be open late to let you get the shopping started. Brought to you

by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Ballymena Business Improvement District, and the Tower Centre.

A horse-drawn carriage will lead Santa and the magical festive parade around Larne town centre, with extra ambience provided by local choirs and bands. The lights switch on will take place at the Broadway bandstand.

Thursday 16 November, 4pm - 7pm

Friday 17 November, 6pm - 8pm

Carrickfergus

Saturday 18 November, 1pm - 6pm A full day of festivities is forecast for Carrickfergus, with fireworks finishing off the celebrations.

Music, dance and Christmas characters will add to the charm, with the lights switch on taking place at High Street.

#findyourchristmas For more information, visit

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/christmas