Green Party launch campaign to stop council merger

In the recent Programme for Government the Northern Ireland Executive confirmed its intention to move to 11 councils from the current system of 26. These proposals would see Lisburn City Council merge with Castlereagh to form a new ‘super-council’ stretching from Glenavy to Dundonald.

But launching the ‘Local is Worth Fighting For! Local voices protect local services’ campaign, Conor Quinn, Chair of the Lagan Valley Green Party: “Strong and vibrant local democracy is a central principle of Green politics.

“We have been opposed to the proposed council merger since it was first mooted and to the overall reorganisation of councils in Northern Ireland.

“In our judgement, the proposed reform of local government in Northern Ireland has focused on achieving administrative efficiency at the expense of effective representation. Increasing centralisation of services is not always in the best interests of local communities. We need to decide what services are delivered at what level, in Northern Ireland, and Greens believe decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level.

“We want to see efficiencies and indeed these are already being achieved through the local government Improvement, Collaboration and Efficiency Programme.

“However this should go further and we see no reason why senior council officers could not operate across a number of councils. For example, a Chief Executive could be responsible for two or even three councils.”

He continued: “Our concern is that communities have effective local representation and vibrant citizen participation. We must remember that in Northern Ireland we have no equivalent to Parish Councils in England or Town Councils in the Republic of Ireland.

“These strong representative bodies play a vital community function at minimal administrative expense.

“In the recent campaigns, to secure 24 hour emergency services at Lagan Valley Hospital and to save Knockmore Primary School, we have seen the Council act effectively in fighting for our local community.

“Such effective representation would be diluted in the proposed new ‘super-council’. How could it provide the focus to future issues such as the rejuvenation of Lisburn City Centre trading?

“Furthermore there is a clear risk to the hard won City status and the associated benefits that brings to Lisburn.

“The 11 council model is bad for Northern Ireland and the proposed merger of Lisburn and Castlereagh Councils will be bad for Lisburn,” he concluded.

“Local is worth fighting for! Local voices protect local services.”

The campaign can be supported by signing the petition at www.facebook.com/StopMerger

For free campaign posters and petition forms email [email protected] or telephone/text 07717 717755.