The Minister for Employment and Learning is being urged to "rethink" his decision to consolidate the Northern Regional College's (NRC) Ballymoney campus to a new development in Coleraine.

North Antrim Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann described Minister Stephen Farry's decision is "yet another blow" to Ballmoney town.

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Mr Swnn said: "There is the real danger that shutting the NRC's Ballymoney campus will create the impression that the locality is becoming an academic wasteland for further and higher education, and North Antrim students will have to travel to another constituency to develop their skills base.

"I urge the DEL Minister to have a radical rethink of the NRC Business Case and maintain a clear presence in Ballymoney town as the ‘Tech’ has done for generations."

Mr Swann has requested for an urgent meeting with the NRC to discuss the issue.

(CD/MH)