Carla Lockhart MP and Lord Mayor Margaret Tinsley Welcome Minister Jacob Young to Banbridge to Discuss FE McWilliams successful Leveling Up Bid

Carla Lockhart MP • April 16, 2024

Carla Lockhart, MP for Upper Bann, and Lord Mayor Margaret Tinsley were delighted to host Minister of State Jacob Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities, in Banbridge’s FE McWilliams Gallery and Studio. The purpose of the visit was to discuss the expansion plans for the Council’s key art and tourism facility, following the recent success of a £3.6 million Leveling Up funding bid.

The invitation extended by Carla Lockhart MP facilitated a fruitful discussion on the transformative potential of the allocated funding. The proposed plans aim to enhance and extend the existing facility by introducing additional exhibition space, improved education facilities and conferences space. It is hoped that the current visitor numbers of 50,000 per year will increase to 90,000 per year as a result.


Carla Lockhart MP expressed her gratitude for Minister Jacob Young's visit, stating, "I was pleased to welcome Minister Young to Banbridge to discuss the exciting expansion plans for our art and tourism facility. This funding presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance our cultural landscape and bolster our local economy. It will continue to showcase Upper Ban at the very heart of our UK Government. I want to attract money from the Leveling Up Fund for several other projects and therefore take every opportunity I can to highlight the needs.”

Share

Minister must act to support next generation farmers in NI

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 13, 2026
DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has raised concerns about the lack of financial support for young people in Northern Ireland who are serious about a future in farming.

Government must listen and review damaging inheritance tax reforms

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 12, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart is urging the government to listen to the electorate and reconsider its controversial approach to British farming.

Lockhart pledges support for Mind Your Head campaign

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 12, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart pledged her support for the Farm Safety Foundation’s Yellow Wellies Mind Your Head campaign, during this week’s parliamentary drop-in event at Westminster.

Lockhart Praises Young Entrepreneurs at Rushmere Trade Fair

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has praised the talent, creativity and confidence shown by local pupils at the Young Enterprise Big Market Trade Fair, held at Rushmere Shopping Centre . Schools from Banbridge , Lurgan and Portadown were well represented at the event, which showcased a wide range of student-led business ideas and products. 

Lockhart Praises Reopening of Captain Cook’s in Banbridge

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 11, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart , has welcomed the reopening of Captain Cook’s, describing the revamped Banbridge eatery as a real boost for the local area.

Lockhart Condemns Approval of Puberty Blockers Trial Involving Children in Northern Ireland

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 10, 2026
Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has strongly condemned the decision to approve participation in a UK wide puberty blockers clinical trial involving children, describing the move as a serious failure of safeguarding and child protection.

Lockhart Secures High-Level Royal Mail Meeting Over Unacceptable Postal Delays in Banbridge and Across Upper Bann

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 9, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has secured a high-level meeting with senior management from Royal Mail in London to address ongoing and unacceptable postal delays in Banbridge and across the wider Upper Bann constituency, with particular concern around delays to vital correspondence such as hospital appointment letters.

Lockhart welcomes judicial review and peer recognition of burdensome farm tax reforms

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 5, 2026
Confirmation that the High Court has ordered an urgent judicial review into inheritance tax reforms has been welcomed by the DUP’s Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP.

Lockhart accuses SES of paralysing NI’s agricultural planning process

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 5, 2026
The DUP’s Westminster Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has accused Shared Environment Services (SES) of paralysing Northern Ireland’s planning system.

Stark Cancer Statistics Expose Unacceptable Delays

By Carla Lockhart MP • February 4, 2026
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that shocking new figures on cancer treatment in Northern Ireland expose a health service struggling to deliver timely care and has called for urgent action including free travel support for patients and ring-fenced funding to address chronic delays.