Antrim & Newtownabbey Council Meeting Highlights – November 2025

The latest Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council meeting took place on Monday 24 November 2025 at Mossley Mill, and while some parts were routine, there were several decisions and discussions that will directly affect residents, local businesses, and community groups.

Here’s a plain-English breakdown of the key takeaways.

One of the most welcome decisions of the evening was the approval of free car parking on every Saturday in December 2025 at:

The idea is simple: encourage Christmas shopping locally and boost footfall for town centre businesses. While the council estimates a loss of around £1,474 in parking income, members agreed this was worth it if it helps traders during the festive period.

If the scheme proves successful, it could become a regular annual feature going forward.

Representatives from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads Northern Division attended to give their annual update — and councillors didn’t hold back.

Issues raised included:

DfI officials agreed to follow up directly with councillors on specific problem areas. While no immediate fixes were announced, members clearly pushed for better responsiveness to ongoing road and safety concerns.

Councillors expressed disappointment with a response from the Department for Infrastructure regarding water and sewerage capacity across the borough.

The issue stems from what the council sees as historic underfunding of NI Water, which continues to limit housing development and infrastructure upgrades. Although the Minister outlined current funding and long-term plans, councillors felt key concerns were not fully addressed.

As a result, the council agreed to write back seeking clearer answers — signalling that this issue is far from settled.

A motion was passed recognising International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and reaffirming the council’s ongoing work in this area.

Councillors also acknowledged the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Act (NI) 2022, which gives victims up to 10 days of paid leave per year. Officers are currently reviewing how this legislation could be implemented within council operations, with a report expected in the future.

There was also discussion around ensuring support is inclusive, including consideration for male victims.

A major investment decision was approved for new sports facilities at Abbey Community College, including:

The facilities will meet Intermediate Football standards, allowing St Mary’s Football Club to use the site for home matches, while still being available to the wider community through normal booking processes.

Work is expected to begin in early 2026, with phased completion through the year.

In confidential session, councillors approved new contracts for the transportation and reprocessing of recyclable waste from household recycling centres across the borough.

These contracts cover everything from plastics and cardboard to mattresses, timber and oils, with a strong emphasis on:

Some waste streams received no suitable bids and will be reviewed separately.

While council meetings can often feel distant from everyday life, this one included decisions that will directly affect:

We’ll continue to follow up on these issues — especially roads, infrastructure, and future council decisions that affect daily life across the borough.

You can find the full meeting minutes here.