Notice of Election published for May 22

The ‘Notice of Election’ of Councillors for the District Electoral Areas of Mid & East Antrim has been published. In addition to giving details of the nomination timetable and who to contact if any person wishes to stand for election, the Notice also sets out the number of persons to be elected to the various District Electoral Areas (DEAs) and a breakdown of the wards within those Areas.

Seven councillors are to be elected to ‘Ballymena’ which contains the wards of Academy, Ardeevin, Ballykeel, Braidwater, Castle Demesne, Fair Green and Park; six councillors are to be elected to ‘Bannside’ which contains the wards of Ahoghill, Cullybackey, Galgorm, Grange, Maine and Portglenone; and, seven to ‘Braid’ which covers the wards of Ballee & Harryville, Broughshane, Glenravel, Glenwhirry, Kells, Kirkinriola and Slemish.

Five councillors are to be elected to each of the four other Mid & East Antrim DEAs.

These are -

‘Carrick Castle’, containing the wards of Boneybefore, Castle, Kilroot, Love Lane and Victoria; ‘Coast Road’ (Cairncastle, Carnlough & Glenarm, Craigyhill, Gardenmore and The Maidens); ‘Knockagh’ (Burleigh Hill, Gortalee, Greenisland, Sunnylands, and Woodburn); and, ‘Larne Lough’ (Ballycarry and Glynn), Curran and Inver), Islandmagee, Kilwaughter, and Whitehead South.

Further details can be obtained from the council offices of Ballymena, Carrick or Larne or from their websites: www.ballymena.gov.uk, www.carrickfergus.org, wwwlarne.gov.uk or from the Electoral Office website: www.eoni.org.uk

Elections to the new 40-member Mid & East Antrim Council will be held on Thursday, May 22, with Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24, set aside for the Count.

Those elected will sit on the shadow Mid and East Antrim Council until April 2015.

Provision has been made by government where a transitional period will run from May 22 until April 1, 2015, when the new Councils will adopt their full role, responsibilies, powers and functions.

The newly elected councils, acting in shadow form, will have the statutory authority and democratic mandate to make policy decisions that will shape the direction of the new council before it becomes fully operational.