With freezing conditions continuing across Northern Ireland, local community representatives have been lending a helping hand to residents across the wider Ballymena area who are struggling in a battle against the elements.
While the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) provides gritting services on the main road network, as well as providing salt bins and salt piles to a number of residential and rural areas, many members of the community have struggled with ice-covered footpaths and road surfaces over the last week.
After putting on an offer for help out on social-media, Alan Barr from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) was inundated with requests for assistance from the community.
Along with Ballymena Independent Councillor Rodney Quigley, the pair braved the freezing temperatures with smiles on these face to grit footpaths in the areas of Kells, Ballee, Harryville, Camphill and Broughshane.
Areas covered included the car park of a doctor’s surgery and footpaths in front of pensioners’ bungalows, as well as general pathways in residential areas.
It is understood that the self-help piles placed at the various community centres across Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim will be replenished on Tuesday morning.
These are available for everyone to use, and available from the following locations:
BALLYMENA
• Ballee Community Centre
• Ballykeel Community Centre
• Ballymena North Centre
• Harryville Community Centre
• Peoples Park - Doury Road Layby
• Waveney Road
• Ahoghill Community Centre
• Cullybackey Community Centre
• Galgorm Community Centre
• Portglenone Marina
• Tullygarley Community Centre
• Ballymena Showgrounds - Warden Street
• Broughshane Community Centre
• Clough Community Centre
• Dunclug Community Centre
• Kells Community Centre
• Grange – entrance to Moorlands Estate
LARNE
• Redlands Household Recycling Centre
• Glenlough Community Centre, Carnlough
• Glenview Car Park, Carnalbanagh
• Larne Leisure Centre Car Park
• Glenarm Car Park (Beside Pigeon Club)
• Glenarm Car Park, The Clooney
• Deerpark Road (Beside Creamery)
• Curran Business Park (Larne Parks Department)
• Islandmagee Cemetery, Low Road, Islandmagee
• Raloo Presbyterian Church Car Park, Raloo
• Ballygally Car Park (Beside Spar)
CARRICKFERGUS
• Sullatober Depot
• Amphitheatre, Carrickfergus
• Greenisland Allotments Car Park, Knockleigh Walk
• Castleview Pavilion Car Park (Beside Recycling Bring Sites)
Council is not responsible for the salting of roads. To report an issue in your area, such as lack of salt/grit, please visit:
Freezing temperatures are expected to continue until the end of this week so please exercise extreme caution if out and about.
For the latest weather forecast, visit: