Fresh amendments to Upper Bann plus Newry and Armagh Boundaries Commission proposals

In relation to Upper Bann, the Commissioners decided to revise the Initial Proposals following representations to take into consideration ‘undue disruption to existing constituency boundaries.

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It has an electorate of 83,028 which is above the statutory electorate range. It is limited in where it can shed electorate to, given special geographical considerations (in particular, Lough Neagh at the northern boundary, and the built-up areas) and the above-range electorates in the adjacent constituencies.

The following amendments to the initial proposals are:

• The split ward of Donaghcloney, which was aligned within Upper Bann, is left split between Upper Bann and Lagan Valley

• The split ward of Banbridge East, which was aligned within Upper Bann, is left split between Upper Bann and South Down

• The split ward of Loughgall, which was aligned within Fermanagh & South Tyrone, is split between Mid Ulster and Upper Bann

• The split ward of The Birches, which was aligned within Upper Bann, is split between Mid Ulster and Upper Bann

Meanwhile in the Newry and Armagh constituency the Initial Proposals are to remain the same.

Those proposals include the ward of Loughgall (which is split between Fermanagh & South Tyrone and Newry & Armagh) was aligned with Fermanagh & South Tyrone. The whole ward of Blackwatertown was transferred from Newry & Armagh into Fermanagh & South Tyrone constituency.

Also that the following split wards are aligned within South Down: Derryleckagh, Loughbrickland, Mayobridge.

Plus, the ward of Mahon (which is currently split between Newry & Armagh and Upper Bann and constitutes most of Portadown) is aligned within Upper Bann.