Roads Minister Danny Kennedy has announced the suspension of car parking charges at St Brides Car Park in Carrickfergus ahead of work beginning on the A2 Shore Road Greenisland improvement scheme.

The suspension period, beginning today, is expected to continue until summer 2015 when work on the £50-£60million A2 scheme is scheduled for completion.

St Brides now offers additional Park and Ride and Park and Share facilities close to Carrickfergus Railway Station and is one of a number of measures that will be rolled out in advance of the A2 scheme to help reduced the unavoidable impact the works will have on the travelling public.

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Speaking in Carrickfergus, Mr Kennedy said: "The temporarily free Park and Ride and Park and Share facilities at St Brides offers an additional boost for commuters who wish to travel by rail ahead of and during the period of the works on the A2 between Greenisland and Carrickfergus.

"With the introduction of the new Translink train timetables supported by increased capacity on trains, including those on the busy Belfast/Larne route, I would encourage everyone to consider sustainable transport when planning journeys."

Work is expected to begin on the A2 improvement scheme in April this year.

(CD/GK)