Statement by TUV Braid councillor Matthew Warwick:
“I am deeply disappointed by today’s decision by the new government to pause funding to City and Growth deals.
“Mid and East Antrim had a team employed on three projects and has already invested hundreds of thousands. There were plans for an innovation centre on the old St Patrick’s Barracks site in Ballymena which was to see research to grow the green economy, a second phase of the Gobbins project with a new visitor centre at the cliff path and new infrastructure and the development of infrastructure around the castle such as a new footbridge linking the castle to the town centre across the busy Marine Highway road in Carrickfergus.
“This is a massive blow to the local area. Labour – which sought no mandate for this in the election – should hang their heads in shame.”