McCudden hopes that Ballyclare West project will still go ahead

Alliance Ballyclare Councillor Pat McCudden has called on DRD to ensure that the Ballyclare West relief project will still go ahead. He was speaking after KPL, the company behind the project, entered into administration. It has been reported that they recently sold the land where 2,000 homes and a by-pass road would have been built.

Cllr Pat McCudden said: “I am deeply saddened by the news that KPL has entered into administration. They are a well-known and respected firm. My thoughts are with the 200 workers.

“It appears that due to the economic difficulties they faced, they sold the land for this project before Christmas. Around 2,000 homes would have been built and it would have been the first privately provided relief road which would have dramatically reduced congestion in the town.

“Ballyclare is not developing at the rate one would want. This project would have helped attract people to the town and would have helped boost local businesses.

“My colleague, David Ford MLA, will be seeking a meeting with the Regional Development Minister to explore how we can ensure that this project goes ahead in some form. I would suggest to the Minister that if money is not being spent on the A5 project, then perhaps it could be redirected to this scheme which is shovel ready. I will continue to lobby for this project to go ahead.”

ENDS