Kerbside parklet on Broughshane Street, Ballymena, and a Green wall at Agnew Street car park in Larne.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Environment and Economy Committee has been given an update on plans to revitalise three town centres.
Proposals include a “pop-up community garden” for a derelict “gap site” between Main Street and Point Street in Larne town centre.
A report to the committee said the council is negotiating with the land- owner for a short-term lease to create “a mix of green space and seating”.
Speaking at the committee meeting at The Braid, in Ballymena, on Monday evening, Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Councillor Roy Beggs queried expenditure at a site which may be developed suggesting “public money may be wasted and everything uprooted and destroyed if someone wants to develop it”.
The proposed site for a ‘pop-up community garden’ on a derelict ‘gap site between Main Street and Point Street in Larne town centre.
John McVeigh, the council’s head of capital works, told the committee a year’s lease, “furniture” and lighting would cost £100,000 to make the site “a more attractive place within the town centre”.
Committee chair Larne Lough DUP Cllr Gregg McKeen noted equipment will be “removable and usable” in other areas with some upkeep provided by a local community organisation.
Cllr Beggs also questioned the “green wall” concept and queried the cost and proposed locations as well as running costs for irrigation and electricity. Green walls are vertical structures comprised of plants and other shrubbery.
He went on to say trees planted in town centres can be “attractive and cheaper” than green walls which were estimated to cost £40,000 for each of three proposed locations in Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena. He asked if an alternative was investigated.
The council is also seeking four town centre sites in the borough for public kerbside seating “parklets” at a cost of £80,000.
“There are better value for money options for improving greenery in our town centres. I would hope there are some clear figures about this,” Cllr Beggs added.
Mr McVeigh said irrigation is required and spoke of the need to work with parks and open space colleagues. He added that feedback on green walls is “very positive”.
Braid DUP Alderman William McCaughey pointed out all proposed projects have been agreed.
These are among a number of projects that have been proposed for a funding application to the Department for Communities (DfC) for the second year of its post-Covid ‘Revitalising Town Centres’ programme.
“If we can lever in another £750k, I propose we accept that,” he commented.
Coast Road Ulster Unionist Cllr Maureen Morrow queried the provision of additional “parklets” saying that traders feel if there was more on-street parking, it would bring more footfall to shops adding that “some shopkeepers feel they do more harm than good”.
The officer said “feedback on parklets has been positive providing extra shopping space”.
Coast Road DUP Cllr Andrew Clarke said he was “happy to second” the proposal.
The committee agreed the council’s ten per cent contribution of £75,500 to the project application for DfC funding for the second year of the post-Covid town centre scheme.
The proposed programme in Mid and East Antrim will include the purchase of an artificial Christmas tree for Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena at a cost of £105k and phase two of a shop front grant scheme.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council received funding of £414,500 in 2023/24 through the programme. Of this sum, almost £170k was used for a shop front grant scheme, aiding 55 businesses to date, three town centre ‘pop-up’ shops, cafe furniture, installation of ten ‘smart’ benches, planting of three ‘green’ walls, feature lighting, sound systems in Carrickfergus and Ballymena and a community noticeboard in Larne.