Democratic Unionist Assembly member David Hilditch, whose party clashed with Ms Ritchie’s SDLP in budget debates earlier in the week, offered the Minister a “warm welcome after a heavy couple of days”.

He added that, despite differences between their parties, he is “delighted” to work alongside Ms Ritchie as deputy chairman of the Social Development committee at Stormont.

His Alliance counterpart Sean Neeson, at whose invitation the Minister visited the Borough, said Ms Ritchie’s support for the Development Company’s regeneration plans represents “another major boost for the town centre”.

He commented: “I wanted the Minister to see what has been achieved in the Maritime area and the situation in the town centre.”

“The most important thing is that we draw up a masterplan that will work, attracting inward investment. I am optimistic that we will be able to achieve that.”

Ulster Unionist councillor Mark Cosgrove said the Development Company, of which he is a part, is right to take its case for regeneration to the Department for Social Development.

“Council has very limited resources for funding - this is the right way. Margaret Ritchie had never been to Carrickfergus before and I think she was impressed with its potential, so I would be hopeful that when the plan is drawn up we will find sympathetic ears at DSD. If they are spending money drafting the plan, they are not going to let it sit on the mantelpiece.

“Hopefully this time next year we will be able to draw up a budget and timeline. My main plea is that whatever comes back is fully costed - it has to be innovative, but there is no point producing a piece of work if the cost is not realistic and affordable.”

Cllr Cosgrove suggested that consultants for the masterplan should be appointed from outside Northern Ireland so that the present situation can be examined by a fresh pair of eyes with no preconceptions about the Borough.