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COUNCILLORS 'DISAPPOINTED' BY UUP RESPONSE TO
BOUNDARY PROPOSALS
by JULIE-ANN SPENCE
Mayor hits out at his own party
 THE
Mayor of Lisburn, Ulster Unionist Councillor Ronnie Crawford has
put his constituency above his Party by reacting angrily to a
UUP response to the proposed changes to Council boundaries. The
Ulster Unionist Party recently submitted a report to the
Boundary Commission, giving its opinion on proposed changes,
which could see Lisburn Council merged with Castlereagh Council
and Dunmurry move into Belfast Council. However, Lisburn's Mayor
has said he is "deeply disappointed" his own party has all but
ignored the concerns of the people of Lisburn, who fear the city
will be sidelined in favour of a larger Belfast City Council.
In the Ulster Unionist Party report Lisburn is mentioned only
in relation to the impact any changes will have on Belfast and
one additional throwaway line, which reads: "Lisburn must retain
its City status."
"I am deeply disappointed the concerns of the Lisburn people
have been totally ignored by the Ulster Unionist Party, despite
our concerns being made very clear," said Mr Crawford, who also
pointed out the Party had not sought the opinion of Lisburn
councillors before drafting the document.
"This is very disappointing for us," he continued. "It's
people before party for me on this issue. I joined the Ulster
Unionist Party, not the Belfast Unionist Party. How can we go
and look for new party members in Lagan Valley when the Party
shows such disregard for Lisburn?"
Mr Crawford's Party colleague, Councillor
David Archer, has also hit out at the Ulster Unionist Party.
"This report is a disgrace and an insult to the UUP grouping on
Lisburn Council and to the people of Lisburn," said Mr Archer.
"The most breathtaking part of it all is that Lisburn gets but
one line in the report and even at that this only extends to the
retention of City status.
"It actually has occurred to me that perhaps
the report is incomplete and someone has forgotten about
Lisburn," he continued. "Our Belfast colleagues within the UUP
have clearly decided they're not even remotely interested in
making an effort with their Lisburn members anymore."
Public hearing to discuss the new council
boundaries
THE Local Government Boundaries Commissioner,
Dick Mackenzie CB, has announced details of the public hearing
into the proposed Lisburn City and Castlereagh Local Government
District.
The hearing will be held in The Ramada Hotel,
Milltown Road, Shaws Bridge, Belfast and will begin Monday,
November 24. It is expected to conclude the following day.
Proceedings will be conducted by the newly appointed Assistant
Local Boundaries Commissioner. The hearing aims to provide a
forum for members of the public to discuss the Commissioner's
Provisional Recommendations with regard to name and boundary of
the proposed Lisburn City and Castlereagh District Council and
the number, boundaries and names of its constituent wards.
The Commissioner's Provisional
Recommendations Report can be viewed at all district council
headquarters, libraries, Area Electoral Offices, the office of
the Electoral Commission and the office of the Local
Government Boundaries Commission and can be
downloaded at
www.lgbcni.org. A guide to the procedures governing the
conduct of the hearings can also be obtained from the
Commissioner's website or by contacting the LGBC office on 028
9049 4870.
The Lisburn City and Castlereagh hearing will
open at 10.00am on Monday, November 24. Those wishing to present
their views regarding the
Commissioner's provisional recommendations
for the Lisburn City and Castlereagh District Council boundary
should register their interest at the start of the hearing in
order to allow a formal agenda to be drawn up and the duration
of the hearing to be determined.
The morning session will run from 10.00am until 12.30pm and
the afternoon session from 1.30pm to 4pm. If required, the
hearing may continue into a third day.
Ulster Star
21/11/2008
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