North Down Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has said the Education Minister must provide clearer guidance over what provision will be put in place for children and young people in Bangor Town Centre, as Bangor Central Integrated Primary School prepares to move to a new site at the Balloo Road.

The school is due to leave its current Town Centre location for a much needed new build, with Mr Muir urging the Minister to provide full deal as to how those in the town centre will be catered for – an issue raised consistently by parents.

He added: “Whilst I firmly welcome the announcement of funding to enable the much needed new school building, a key concern raised with me and my colleague Dr Stephen Farry as MP for North Down is how children and young people residing in Bangor Town Centre will be catered for.

“I questioned the Minister on this issue in the Assembly, but was left disappointed by the quality and robustness of his response. Full clarity must be given concerning whether free dedicated bus travel will be provided alongside what collaboration will occur with other agencies to better enable Active Travel along, for example, the new Greenway planned to connect Balloo to Bangor.”

Continuing, Mr Muir remarked: “As Alliance MLA for North Down I will be following up these issues up with both the Minister and Education Authority conscious also of my desire to support School Staff and Governors in their endeavours to ensure the new building occurs before funding availability ends in 2026.

Concluding, Mr Muir stated “Retention of the existing site for future educational use must also be assured, a matter for which Stephen Farry as MP has raised with the Education Authority and will continue to advance until necessary assurances are received mindful of the need to ensure continued Integrated Primary provision for the potentially increased levels of children and young people living in the Town Centre.”