Umbrellas bring a splash of colour to Carrick town centre

A splash of colour arrived in Carrickfergus this morning with the launch of '˜Umbrella Street'.
MEA Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid, with CTCP members Lisa Souter, Pat Clarke and Michaela Long at the launch of Umbrella Street.MEA Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid, with CTCP members Lisa Souter, Pat Clarke and Michaela Long at the launch of Umbrella Street.
MEA Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid, with CTCP members Lisa Souter, Pat Clarke and Michaela Long at the launch of Umbrella Street.

The eye-catching project, which saw dozens of umbrellas suspended above West Street, is a collaboration between the Carrickfergus Town Centre Partnership (CTCP) and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.

Several traders and business owners were joined by passers-by who unfurled umbrellas to join in the festivities as MEA Mayor, Cllr Paul Reid launched the scheme.

Lisa Souter, CTCP Marketing Manager and Proprietor of Lisa’s Attic in the DeCourcey Centre said: “This is a great example of partnership in action and what can be achieved by cooperative working. It is one of the increasing number of projects that we are working on in collaboration with the council, as we endeavour to enhance the offering the town centre presents to shoppers, and thereby increase footfall.”

AgeNI Carrickfergus gets into the spirit of the umbrella theme.AgeNI Carrickfergus gets into the spirit of the umbrella theme.
AgeNI Carrickfergus gets into the spirit of the umbrella theme.

CTCP Chair, Noel Williams, added: “The CTCP has been in existence now for only two and a half years and this type of event demonstrates that our members are keen to promote the town centre in an innovative and positive way. We have been working on several events with the council and have regular meetings with the officers with responsibility for the wellbeing of the town.

“I would encourage people to come back to the town centre to do their shopping. Shops and businesses will thrive if people support them by returning to our town centre, as opposed to doing all their shopping in out of town retail outlets.”