Residents welcome u-turn over park and ride plan

Despite over 900 objections to the plan the Roads Service was granted planning permission for the 92 parking space site on the Ballyhenry Road at the junction with Dorchester Drive.

For almost 10 years residents and local political representatives fought to have the scheme close to the borough’s busiest junction scrapped, saying it would lead to anti-social behaviour and barely put a dent in the traffic congestion caused by the thousands of cars which go through Sandyknowes on a daily basis.

Work was due to begin at the site in December, however, following a meeting with residents earlier this month, the Roads Minister Danny Kennedy decided this week to pull the plug on the project.

Councillor Mark Cosgrove said the proposal had been nothing more than an “afterthought”.

“The proposal was bad for residents, bad for Newtownabbey and bad value for money. This is great news and I am sure it will be welcomed by all,” he said.

See full story and residents’ reaction in this week’s Times...