‘Time for change from old mindset’

I have no doubt that there a some good councillors in Lisburn City but the bottom line is they have failed, especially the DUP who have more councillors than any other party to deliver or convince their colleagues outside the city to back issues that matter to our progress and creating much needed jobs making reference to not only John Lewis but the National Stadium.

It seems given the lack of support from the wider DUP and the disgraceful comments made by Alex Attwood that Lisburn City can have whatever we want as long as Belfast City have it first and that theirs is bigger and better.

I would have had much more sympathy if Lisburn City councillors, instead of demanding Alex Attwood resigns, made a legal challenge to his position via the courts given that he publicly admitted he favours Belfast City over the rest of us and would do what is necessary to stop any projects out with its boundaries that don’t conform to his viewpoint. which clearly discriminates against the rest of us who have a right to expect equality from someone in such a powerful position.

Let’s also not forget this is the same Alex Attwood who granted planning permissions for the Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa project at Runkerry near the Giant’s Causeway, a World Heritage site which will destroy 360 acres of important biodiversity and special scientific land in order to create a playground for the rich, NOT as he states to enhance tourism, total hypocrisy.

It is indeed I admit factual that local independent retailers and shops are closing at an alarming rate but one would suggest this has more to do with the major supermarket chains being allowed to open in Lisburn City without a pre-condition, they sell food related consumer goods and they have been given carte blanche to do and sell as they please with limited or no restrictions.

I am also deeply disillusioned about the outburst of cries of foul play coming from our local DUP councillors with regard to the removal of the Union Flag from Belfast City Hall when they themselves along with the UUP, voted to remove the Union Flag from our council buildings here in Lisburn City in favour of designated days, an issue which they are now trying to back track on but the terminology too little too late springs to mind in yet more hypocrisy.

As a unionist my personal position is very clear, Northern ireland is part of the United Kingdom and as long as that is a geological fact, we should either fly the Union Flag or alternatively the Ulster Flag from our council buildings 365 days a year.

I myself like many others, I assume have been guilty of in the past, voting based on my religion without looking at the policies of my chosen party which for me used to be the DUP, a party who I will never vote for again. Instead I am doing as much research as i can in future to elect the party I feel will do its best for Lisburn City and all of our people.

My current party of choice being UKIP who are the most progressive party in the United Kingdom and welcome everyone irrespective of race, religion, creed or colour with no hidden, deep rooted tribal point scoring agenda.

I am totally fed up with the same old, same mindset excuses and broken promises and feel more strongly than ever that its time for change.