Name of council decided

The decision was taken at a meeting of the shadow council at the Craigavon Civic Centre last night (Thursday).

The new council will formally replace Craigavon Borough Council, Armagh City and District Council and Banbridge District Council.

Nationalists had been opposed to the inclusion of ‘Craigavon’ in the name, taken after Lord Craigavon, the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland however Unionist wanted Craigavon to remain in the title.

Councillors were also keen that the name ‘Armagh City’ should stay, reflecting the ‘city status’ of Armagh which was bestowed two decades ago and the more recent awarding of ‘Lord Mayor’ office.

Some of the previous names suggested had included: Armagh City Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Armagh City and Upper Bann Borough Council; Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Armagh and Upper Bann Borough Council

The Civic Centre in Craigavon, will be the main headquarters for the new ABC Council.

Armagh will retain civic responsibilities – hence the wish to retain the ‘city’ element to the name – while planning functions will be assumed in Banbridge.

The new council is set to take over from the other three council’s on April 1.