Long: Time to address parking problems at Kingspan Stadium

Alliance Councillor Michael Long highlighted the concerns of residents living close to the Kingspan Stadium, at a special meeting with the PSNI and Ulster Rugby officials earlier this week. In recent years while the stadium has continued to grow and develop, little has been done to resolve the on-going parking problems that plague local residents. […]

Long says donor loophole shows need for more financial transparency

Alliance Deputy Leader Naomi Long has said a loophole making public information about political donors to election candidates here shows the need for more transparency around who finances local political parties more generally. Currently, donations over £7,500 from a single source are made public in the rest of the UK but not Northern Ireland. Mrs […]

McDonough Brown: Unionist bridge opposition proves South Belfast deserves better

Alliance Councillor Emmet McDonough Brown has said a new bridge linking the Ozone and the Gasworks will ‘greatly enhance’ community relations in South Belfast, as well as significantly improving cycling and pedestrian routes in the area. The South Belfast representative was speaking as plans – originally championed by then UUP DRD Minister Danny Kennedy – […]

Dickson says flags report justifies party’s approach

Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson has said a new academic report into flags has justified the party’s approach into flag flying. Mr Dickson was speaking after the release of Flags: Towards a New Understanding by researchers from Queen’s University. It recommends unofficial flags being flown only with community consent and remaining in place for […]

Lyttle expresses deep regret at Bombardier job losses

East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has expressed his deep regret at the news of major job losses in his constituency and stated his commitment to support affected workers. It comes after Bombardier announced plans to cut over 1,000 people over the next two years. Mr Lyttle said his foremost concern was for the workers […]

Armstrong says more needs done to reduce autism waiting times

Alliance Councillor Kellie Armstrong has said while she welcomes the Health Minister’s investment in autism services, more needs done to reduce waiting times. The Alliance Strangford Assembly candidate was speaking after Simon Hamilton announced £2 million per year would be put into the area in a bid to improve access to support services. Councillor Armstrong […]

Cochrane welcomes Strandtown funding allocation

Alliance East Belfast MLA Judith Cochrane has welcomed the allocation of £4 million to a local primary school. Strandtown Primary School has been given the money under the Department of Education’s School Enhancement Programme. The funding will be used to construct 12 new classrooms to address existing under-provision at the school. Judith said she was […]

Dickson disappointed by Assembly abortion vote result

Stewart Dickson MLA has expressed disappointment after the Assembly voted against legalising abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality (FFA). Alliance MLA Mr Dickson was speaking following the fall of an amendment to the Justice Bill brought by him and party colleague Trevor Lunn MLA that would have seen reform around FFA cases to allow […]

Cultra Station restoration project back on track

The project to restore old Cultra Railway Station is now firmly back on track, Alliance Councillor Andrew Muir has said, as he welcomed the news along with retired conservation architect Larry Thompson. Long-term campaigners for the project to go ahead, the local representatives were speaking after they received confirmation from the developer that restoration plans […]