Sunday pilot for council-run halls proposed from September
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is set to trial Sunday opening at a number of council-managed community centres from 1 September in an effort to boost utilisation and respond to public demand.
The proposal was discussed by the council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee at The Braid in Ballymena, where officials outlined plans for a limited pilot across “selected community centres”. The report to the committee describes this as an initial step in a wider operational review of community facilities across the borough.
Speaking at the meeting, Knockagh Alliance councillor Aaron Skinner — who was granted speaking rights — underlined the practical need the change would address when people try to book a venue for family events. He said that community centres were an affordable option for those bookings and questioned the logic of denying Sunday bookings when there was evident demand.
“When someone wants to book it on a Sunday, why would we not let them?”
Matt McDowell, the council’s director of people, told committee members that the legacy Carrickfergus council was the only one of the three legacy authorities within Mid and East Antrim that previously allowed Sunday openings. He described the pilot as part of an operational review that seeks to identify opportunities to increase the use of facilities through new activities and community-based services.
What the pilot will cover
The committee report recommends introducing a pilot programme across selected community centres to include Sunday opening for children’s birthday parties and other approved activities. Standard opening hours for Monday to Saturday and holiday closures remain part of the approved arrangements.
- Pilot start date: 1 September
- Scope: Selected community centres to open Sundays for approved activities
- Primary use cited: Children’s birthday parties and community events
Some committee members emphasised practical considerations around making the change visible and accessible to users. Larne Lough Alliance councillor Maeve Donnelly said that where Sunday bookings were made available online, the system must make it obvious to users that the option exists.
Ballymena TUV councillor Matthew Armstrong urged the council to look more broadly at its community centre policy, signalling that the pilot could prompt a more comprehensive review if successful. He said he did not want anyone to be required to work on Sundays unnecessarily, indicating the council will need to weigh staffing and operational impacts alongside community benefits.
Local implications and next steps
For residents across the borough — including families in Antrim town seeking affordable venues for weekend events — the proposal could widen access to council-managed halls at times they have previously been unavailable. The pilot approach allows the council to test demand, staffing arrangements and booking systems before making any permanent policy changes.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pilot start date | 1 September |
| Venues | Selected community centres (as yet unspecified) |
| Primary approved uses | Children’s birthday parties and other approved activities |
The committee report describes the Sunday pilot as the first step in a broader review aimed at improving programming and making centres more responsive to community needs. Council officers will need to report on the pilot’s outcomes and any operational issues before the council decides whether to extend Sunday opening more widely.
Residents seeking to book a community centre are advised to check the council’s online booking system for updates on which venues will participate and how Sunday availability will be displayed.
