"Ballycarry and Islandmagee both need separate schools"

Larne Lough Ulster Unionist Party Councillor Mark McKinty has voiced his strong support for Ballycarry Primary School amidst rumours and concern about closure as part of the Area Based Planning process initiated by the Department of Education.

Cllr McKinty, who is a former pupil of the school said: “The recent green light given to a new school in Islandmagee is long overdue and has been universally welcomed.  However, those of us who read the statement carefully noted that the Minister for Education’s statement referred to “a new primary school to service Islandmagee and the surrounding area to include Mullaghdubh and Kilcoan Primary Schools.”

"It seems that the sting in the tail is that the throw-away comment concerning ‘the surrounding area’ seems to refer to Ballycarry" said Cllr. McKinty. "I have been inundated with representations from concerned parents, residents, and members of various local community organisations. The Department needs to clarify the situation immediately."

"Whilst there has been a short term drop in pupil numbers at Ballycarry from, 107 in 2008 to 82 in 2012, these things often go in cycles. Indeed the Ballycarry ward has seen sustained growth in its birth rate since 2005, against slight declines in the neighbouring wards of Islandmagee, Glynn and Whitehead. Recent and future developments continue to attract new residents to the Ballycarry and Islandmagee area, and I believe this helps build a strong case for both schools."

"Today (Tuesday) the Department will consult with staff,  governors and parents of children already at the school. Given the important role the school plays within the community, I have sought assurances that a public consultation will promptly follow, allowing political and community representatives, members of the general public, and parents of prospective pupils to make their voices heard, and I would encourage everyone to ensure they submit a response when the opportunity arises".

"In my opinion Ballycarry needs and deserves its own local Primary School to cater for the village and neighbouring district. This includes Magheramorne, where the local community was devastated by the loss of Newlands Primary School over 20 years ago. An inspector's report on Ballycarry in October 2011 was pleasingly positive, stating "The parents, the teachers and the support staff responded extremely positively to the questionnaires and indicated very high levels of satisfaction with, and support for, the school." "
 
Continuing, Cllr. McKinty sought further clarification from the department of Education: "The question needs to be asked: did the powers that be in Education deliberately stall on the building of a new school in Islandmagee for over a decade in the hope that the numbers at Ballycarry would slip to allow it to be closed?"

Concluding, the Deputy Mayor of Larne stated his support for schools in both areas: "Ballycarry Primary School has been a fantastic school and an integral part of the local community for many generations, and I want to see it grow again and be retained as the hub of the tight-knit village. Equally, Kilcoan and Mullaghdubh, and indeed previously Ballypriormore, provide an excellent service to local school children and the wider community. Ballycarry and Islandmagee both need separate schools, and I will continue to work with staff, parents, pupils and community representatives to ensure that a top-class education service is provided in this area.”

McKinty calls for community solidarity

Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark McKinty has urged communities to show solidarity following a number of criminal attacks across the Borough.

Speaking shortly after the news broke, Cllr. McKinty condemned the attacks as "wreckless". "The incidents which have taken place over the past number of days have left communities devastated, and those to blame are nothing more than inconsiderate thugs."

"The theft of lead from two churches in Ballycarry and Raloo has not only placed a financial burden on those organisations, but has caused hurt amongst members" he said.

"The latest attack on Millar's Public House in Ballycarry was a malicious act against a vibrant and well-respected business within the Village. Thankfully local residents have shown great support to the owner, who was able to proceed with a planned community event over the weekend, despite the setback."

The Deputy Mayor, who is also a member of Larne's Policing and Community Safety Partnership, urged all members of the community to be vigilant, especially those in voluntary or faith-based organisations. "It is important that all members of the community are alert as to what is going on around their neighbourhood, reporting any suspicious activity to the police."

"Churches and other voluntary organisations should be especially vigilant given that their properties may lie vacant more than normal, and regular checks should be carried out on all facilities" said Cllr. McKinty. "Communities can play their part in tackling crime by showing solidarity and standing against those who wish to cause damage to local resources."

Cllr. McKinty appealed to anyone with information on the above events to contact the police or to speak anonymously to Crimestoppers.

Dog fouling "frustrates civic pride": McKinty

Recent problems of dog fouling in Larne have been raised at Council by Ulster Unionist Councillor Mark McKinty. The Deputy Mayor submitted the following motion at a recent meeting of the Environment committee:

"That this Council reviews its approach to tackling dog fouling to ensure targeted action at those areas worst affected, to include a responsive clean-up where dog fouling occurs, robust enforcement through the issue of fixed penalties, and community engagement/communication to ensure the message is loud and clear to local people that dog fouling is anti-social, dangerous and will not be tolerated."

The motion, which was seconded by Town councillor Roy Craig, was passed unanimously by those members present.

Proposing the motion, Cllr. McKinty highlighted the "epidemic" nature of the problem. "Since the beginning of 2013, I have received 16 telephone calls or online messages regarding dog fouling, in addition to 5 emails and 7 verbal reports, and I am sure other Councillors have received similad communication."

"Areas mentioned include Ballycarry (Main St, West St, park area), Ballystrudder, Glynn (Jubilee Park, entrance gate to primary school), Sallagh Park, the Factory area, Linn Rd, the Harbour area, Ballygally, the Drains Bay to Carnfunnock path, and even the Main Street" he stated. "This is a country-wide problem of slipping standards."

"I wish to recognise and thank those responsible dog owners who look after their dogs. A smal number of inconsiderate people are giving others a bad name".

"Fouling is a public health risk, especially to young children. It can also be dangerous to other dogs, causing disease and death."

"People are fed up with this blight on our communities. The message needs to go out loud and clear: allowing a dog to foul and not clean up after it is anti-social and this Council will be proactive in taking action against offenders" said Cllr. McKinty.

In his closing remarks, Cllr. McKinty paid tribute to the owners of Ballycarry's pet groomers for offering free bags and dispensers in an attempt to tackle the pronlem. "We must be seen to be taking action on this issue. Dog fouling frustrates civic pride in our Borough, and we must all work together to overcome this problem".