'Fuel companies milk profits' says Heading

"During the course of the campaign I have been talking to local people about the issues that are important to them," he said.

"Around Banbridge, people are very positive about the impact that The Outlet has had on the town. Alliance representatives have been supporting plans for a new Tesco store to be opened there.

"This will help create much-needed local jobs and bring money into the local economy, as well as providing rates income to the Council who can continue their sterling work on improving Banbridge town centre, the results of which are already visible for all to see.

"The Outlet is fast becoming a favoured stop-off point for people travelling between Belfast and Dublin, especially with the traffic nightmare around Newry, so I will work to do everything possible to ensure that this part of the Upper Bann constituency maximises the benefit of this.

“One of the biggest complaints I hear from people, inside and outside the constituency, is over the matter of the price of fuel. The fuel duty increase has not helped, but it is clear that fuel companies are milking disproportionate profits from ordinary people who rely on the use of their car, and from our local haulage and taxi firms who are struggling as it is with the effects of the recession. It is all very well for the Government to argue that this is intended to encourage the use of public transport, but that is no good given the unsatisfactory state of public transport in the area, especially in Banbridge where no decent connecting service to the railway exists."