Matthew Shanks - DUP

15/10/2026

🚧 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

Following concerns about the condition of Queensway, I requested that the Department for Infrastructure carry out an inspection of the road.

The Department has now confirmed that 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀.

While no firm date has been provided, the Department has advised that it will continue to monitor the road and consider larger-scale patching of the worst affected areas in the meantime.

It's encouraging to see Queensway being considered for resurfacing, and I'll continue to press for these much-needed improvements to be delivered.

As always, if there are any local roads or footpaths causing concern, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

📞 07526 320303 (including WhatsApp)

📧 [email protected]

📩 Or message me directly through this page.

Lagan Valley DUP

15/10/2026

𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗚𝗠

Great to attend the Hilden Community Association AGM on Tuesday night and hear about their plans for the future!

Having gone to Fort Hill College, I spent plenty of years knocking about Hilden and the Low Road, so it's an area I'm very familiar with.

It's fabulous to see the work being put into the community, particularly the transformation of the former Hilden Primary School into The Tea Room At Hilden Mill, which also allows the great work of Little Weavers Day Care to be carried out. The work led by The Resurgam Trust is a great example of what can be achieved through local regeneration.

Thanks to everyone involved in the Association, past and present, and best wishes to the new committee. I look forward to working with them and supporting their efforts to improve the local area! 👏

Lagan Valley DUP

14/10/2026

🚧 𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗦𝗜𝗭𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗔𝗗 – £𝟳𝟱𝟳,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘

The Department for Infrastructure has confirmed that a £757,000 improvement scheme on Belsize Road will get underway on 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿.

I use this road every day myself, and a number of residents have been in touch with me to raise concerns about the condition of both the road and footpaths. It's good to see these concerns being addressed, although I appreciate the works will bring disruption for those living along the road and using it regularly.

The scheme will include carriageway resurfacing, alongside improvements to kerbs and footpaths.

🚗 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗪:

📅 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻: Monday 19 October 2026.

⏰ 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: Between 9.30am and 4.30pm while works are underway.

🚧 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀: These will be required towards the end of the scheme, with further details of the arrangements to follow.

📅 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 17 March 2027, weather permitting.

If any residents experience issues or difficulties during the works, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me. I'll be more than happy to raise any concerns and help where I can.

🔗 I'll leave a link to TrafficWatchNI in the comments for anyone wanting to keep up to date with the works and traffic arrangements.

Lagan Valley DUP

12/10/2026

🟡 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗡𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘 𝗢’𝗡𝗘𝗜𝗟𝗟

The Alliance Party have confirmed they will not support today's motion of no confidence in Michelle O’Neill, despite her and other Sinn Fein representatives standing with the mob illegally blocking the Garvaghy Road.

Their Justice Minister and Party Leader, Naomi Long, couldn't even turn up for the debate. Their Deputy Leader stood alongside Sinn Fein, while their Lagan Valley MP, Sorcha Eastwood, remains missing in action!

Where is the accountability when it comes to Sinn Fein?

Lagan Valley DUP

09/10/2026

🍽️ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗘! 🇯🇵

Had a brilliant evening last night at The Highway Inn, joining Alderman Paul Porter as a guest judge for The Resurgam Youth Initiative’s ‘Come Dine With Me!’

The young people put together a fantastic Japanese-themed meal, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite!

A massive well done to everyone involved, and thanks to the The Resurgam Trust team for having us! 👏

Lisburn PSP
Lagan Valley DUP

09/10/2026

This is extremely disappointing from the UUP leader.

At a time when we should be unequivocally standing up for the rule of law and the legal right of the 35 Orangemen to walk, Jon Burrows and the UUP say that the Orange Order should back down.

I’m all for unionist unity, but when some unionists say things like this, it has to be called out.

Lagan Valley DUP

08/10/2026

Alliance’s priority is sucking up to politicians in Dublin…

Speaks volumes!

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗬, 𝗗𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧! 🙄

The sheer hypocrisy of the Alliance Party knows no bounds!

On Tuesday, Alliance MLAs walked out of the Assembly rather than face a debate on a motion of no confidence in their own Minister.

Yet, just 24 hours later, two Alliance representatives from Lagan Valley were happy to make the trip to Dublin.

For a party that never stops lecturing others about democracy, accountability and Stormont reform, they seem remarkably unwilling to face scrutiny when the spotlight turns on them!

Lagan Valley DUP

08/10/2026

📍 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻

Great to be out and about in Harmony Hill earlier today delivering contact cards to local residents for both myself and Paul Givan MLA!

Always good to get around the local area and make sure residents know how to get in touch.

If there’s anything we can help you with, please don’t hesitate to give us a shout!

📞 07526 320303
📧 [email protected]

📞 028 9266 1100
📧 [email protected]

Lagan Valley DUP