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.”

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Delayed funding and post-Brexit barriers undermining native woodland in NI

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 13, 2026

Carla Lockhart MP has called for urgent clarity and action from the Stormont Executive over the future of forestry support schemes, warning that unnecessary delays and post-Brexit trading barriers are undermining efforts to expand native woodland planting across Northern Ireland.

𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 13, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has responded to the Government’s proposed legislative programme outlined in the King’s Speech, describing it as “underwhelming, tone deaf and disconnected from the concerns of ordinary people across the United Kingdom.”

Lockhart hits out at PETA stunt and says future of farming is definitely not vegan

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 12, 2026

DUP Agriculture spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has hit out a PETA billboard erected in Lisburn ahead of this week’s Balmoral Show, describing it as another deeply misleading and insulting attack on Northern Ireland’s farming community.

Increased prices for wool is a positive boost for farmers

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 7, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed news that wool prices have hit a 10-year high.

Lockhart questions motive behind environment watchdog’s NAP review

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 7, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has questioned the timing and motive of the NAP (2019) review carried out by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), warning that it risks ‘stoking the fire’ rather than delivering meaningful progress.

Lockhart Encourages Constituents to Continue Engaging Through Monthly Advice Clinics

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 6, 2026

Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has praised the continued success of her monthly advice clinics across the constituency and encouraged local people to continue reaching out for support on the issues affecting them.

Domiciliary Care at Crisis Point in Northern Ireland

By Carla Lockhart MP • May 5, 2026

Upper Bann MP, Carla Lockhart, has warned that domiciliary care services across Northern Ireland have reached crisis point, with the situation in the Southern Trust area highlighting the growing pressure on the entire system.

AFBI must lead by example and continue to restore credibility

By Carla Lockhart MP • April 29, 2026

Carla Lockhart MP has reaffirmed her calls for the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to continue taking urgent steps to restore public and industry confidence, following a number of deeply concerning and widely reported incidents.

NI planning system preventing producers from capitalising on growing demand for eggs

By Carla Lockhart MP • April 29, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed confirmation of a sharp rise in egg consumption across the UK, but warned that Northern Ireland’s dysfunctional planning system is preventing local producers from capitalising on this growing demand.

LOCKHART WELCOMES MAJOR BOOST FOR LURGAN COLLEGE WITH CONSTRUCTION GREEN LIGHT

By Carla Lockhart MP • April 29, 2026

Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed Education Minister Paul Givan MLA’s announcement that the Lurgan College School Enhancement Project will now progress to construction stage, describing it as a major milestone for the school and wider community.