The former Mayor of Newtownabbey - and now Chairman of the Borough's Planning Committee - has slammed NI Executive proposals to introduce a park-and-ride facility near the Sandyknowes roundabout, which he said will cause "gridlock".

In a letter to the Roads Minister, Conor Murphy, Alderman Nigel Hamilton said the planned park-and-ride had received 877 objections, and described the site as "inappropriate" for the purpose.

The land on the Ballyhenry Road, which is owned by the Department for Regional Development, has previously been refused planning permission for private development.

Mr Hamilton said that a key issue for residents is that an application by a private developer was opposed by the department as consultee in 1992 and yet, since the 2003 application by the department itself was submitted, it has instead received support.

"Residents quite rightly ask, how can the consultee be the applicant and still provide an impartial response to planning when they have a vested interest in the development of their own land?" he added.

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The proposed park-and-ride facility's original capacity was expected to be around 137, but has now been reduced to 92, which the councillor has attributed to ongoing local campaigning.

However, Mr Hamilton expressed concerns that this potential surplus may result in illegal parking in nearby residential areas.

"Reducing the number of car parking spaces will do nothing to reassure local residents and may only exacerbate problems," he said.

"Many commuters will find that on arriving to the car park there are no available spaces left and will - like the department - be opportunist and park in the residential streets of the Dorchester development."

Alderman Hamilton said the planned facility is likely to increase congestion, and also warned that such a scheme could result in increased anti-social behaviour in the area.

The site, just 25 metres from the M2 roundabout, would be better suited to housing investment, according to Mr Hamilton.

"DRD have had the opportunity to sell off the site for residential development which would be of more benefit to the area.

"The current plans for park-and-ride will do nothing to combat the current congestion problem and the proposal does not meet the strategic requirements for the Belfast Metropolitan Plan."

The former first citizen has also written a letter to the Department of Environment outlining opposition to the plans, and has suggested that a park-and-ride facility would be more appropriate at the Invest NI-owned Global Point, which is located well away from the main roundabout and has better public transport links.

According to Mr Hamilton, the Global Point location has the capacity to hold around 2,000 cars.

Mr Hamilton said he has the backing of all parties in the council chamber.

(PR)(BMcC)