MINISTER RECEIVES DARD OFFICE PETITION
AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle Gildernew this week received a delegation of East Antrim women involved in farming and lobbying for the retention of the DARD office in Larne.
And Ms Gildernew has also offered to meet Mayor Bobby McKee and Larne Borough Council chief executive Geraldine McGahey to hear the local authority’s case against her Department’s controversial proposal to site a replacement DARD Direct office at Mallusk.
East Antrim Ladies’ Farm Forum members were joined by representatives of the NIPSA trade union and Ulster Unionist East Antrim MLAs Roy Beggs Jnr and Ken Robinson at Stormont on Monday, when they presented the Sinn Fein minister with a petition calling for the continuation of DARD office services at the Crown Buildings in Pound Street.
Mr Beggs said after the meeting: “A very strong and cogent argument has been made to locate a DARD Direct office in Larne and retain the existing services in the town.
“The presentation of the petition to the minister is the culmination of the campaign and we hope she will make the right decision on this matter in the near future.”
He added: “Larne cannot afford to lose any more public services to other areas and we deserve to be treated fairly and with equity in terms of public sector job provision.
“I would pay particular tribute to all those who have supported this campaign, in particular the East Antrim Ladies’ Farm Forum and NIPSA.”
UUP councillor Andy Wilson informed council colleagues of the delegation at their monthly meeting on Monday night.
Mrs McGahey added that Ms Gildernew, who had previously refused to receive a council delegation to discuss the DARD Direct proposals, has since consented to meet with the chief executive and DUP mayor Cllr Bobby McKee.
The town clerk reported: “We have written to ask if she would consider increasing the size of the deputation she will receive.”
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Weather for Larne
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
