“The new barriers installed along the shoreline in Whiteabbey are a complete eyesore, something the Department for Infrastructure should have known before installing them,” said Mr Dickson. 

“These barriers were put up without any public consultation and have faced significant opposition from the local community due to their unattractive appearance and obstruction of some of the best views across Belfast Lough.

“Yesterday, I met with the Minister for Infrastructure and pushed for the removal of the wire mesh attached to the rails, which is obstructing most of the coastal view. 

“The barriers will have cost a ridiculous amount of money to install, and asking for them to be completely removed would be an unjustifiable cost to the taxpayer. However, removing the wire mesh, which has been the cause of most complaints received by my office, would allow the excellent view back across Belfast Lough to be reinstated.

“I understand the barriers were installed for safety, however, the department would have been better to spend this money on actually improving this stretch of road, which is notorious for road accidents.

“Detailed statistics indicate that most collisions occur at the junction on Glenville Road. This junction has been identified as a problem area for years, and I have previously proposed the installation of traffic lights and other traffic calming measures to reduce the number of accidents in this area. It is important to address this issue separately from the current installation of the barriers.

“I will continue to engage with the Minister on this issue and push for the removal of the wire mesh on the barriers. It’s important we preserve the beauty of our coastal paths and allow residents to enjoy the views of Belfast Lough whilst also ensuring our roads are safe for drivers.”