DUP announce Ballymoney names for Causeway Coast and Glens

In happier times: Ballymoney DUP members, Ian Stevenson, Evelyne Robinson, Alan McLean, Mervyn Storey, Frank Campbell, John Finlay and Bill Kennedy

The DUP have finalised their candidates for the forthcoming new Causeway Coast and Glens district council elections due to be held in May.

There are no major surprises, however, two new faces have been added to those seven selected and three existing councillors are not in the running.

Mayor John Finlay and his Deputy, Ian Stevenson, will join new recruits Alan McLean and Johnny Wallace in the Ballymoney ward while Aldermen Bill Kennedy and Frank Campbell have been selected for the Causeway area.

Evelyne Robinson is the sole choice for the Glens ward.

Existing councillors Robert Halliday and Cecil Cousley have decided not to run while Jason Atkinson was not selected in a rigorous procedure adopted by the party hierarchy.

Alan McLean recently replaced MLA Mervyn Storey on Ballymoney Council while Johnny Wallace is a new face, he has been involved with Ballymaconnelly Flute Band down the years.

He played a leading role in the re-building of the Lodge and band’s Orange Hall.

Both are well respected in the community and the party have high hopes of success.

The new eleven council make-up will replace the current 26 district councils and will have responsibility for local planning, housing repairs and demolition.

The new councils are Antrim and Newtownabbey; Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon; Belfast; Causeway Coast and Glens; Derry and Strabane; Fermanagh and Omagh; Lisburn and Castlereagh; Mid and East Antrim; Mid Ulster; Newry, Mourne and Down; and North Down and Ards.

Causeway Coast and Glens council will be made up of the current Ballymoney, Moyle, Limavady and Coleraine councils.

It is the only council in the province which sees four existing councils being merged.

The new arrangements in Northern Ireland will see the number of councillors reduced from 582 to 462.

As before, they will be elected by proportional representation.

The new Causeway Coast and Glens Council will be made up of 40 councillors.

Election day will be May 22nd. Coleraine Leisure Centre will be the count venue.

A list of polling stations will be published this week.