Latest:

03:02 Stars play charity football match
03:02 Hunt faces Leveson Inquiry grilling
02:12 Egypt candidates woo middle ground
01:22 Clinton: End Assad 'rule of murder'
00:22 Rebel groups agree on Islamic state
00:22 Saltire Games ban 'ridiculous'
00:22 Food industry experience offered
00:22 Scott: Sci fi is getting worn out

Stormont just for Belfast?

Monday, 29 June 2009

What do Nelson McCausland, Sammy Wilson, Robin Newton, Sir Reg Empey and Chris McGimpsey have in common apart from being members of the Executive?

They are of course also members of Belfast City Council which is now totally over represented in the Executive. Belfast represents only 15% of the Northern Ireland population and its gross over-representation in the Executive has created severe problems for places like Lisburn, which has been deprived of the National Stadium and seen prolonged delays in the John Lewis planning application as a result of the activities of certain Belfast City councillors.

Had the millions of pounds of rates, lost to the people of Lisburn as a result of this discrimination, been occasioned by terrorist bombs there would have been a huge outcry.

Now we see some of the authors of this damage being rewarded with seats at the Executive table.

Clearly this Assembly is a Belfast Parliament for a Belfast people.

Cllr Ronnie Crawford

Lisburn City Council

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

True. Many people have said the same for Derry too.

Posted by Ciaran Gallagher | 01.07.09, 01:15 GMT

Here, Here. This situation has also been the norm west of the Bann for many years!

Posted by Reality Check | 30.06.09, 12:07 GMT

Belfast city council area may be 15% of the population of NI but the conurbation of Belfast makes up 35% of NI. If places such as Bangor and Lisburn are added (Belfast has a larger pull due to employment and culture) then the population is over 50% of Northern Ireland's population. Belfast serves more than the people who live in the Belfast City Council area.

Statistics can be used in many ways.

Posted by RS | 30.06.09, 10:32 GMT

What an avaricious observation. Ronnie does not give consideration to suitability of Development, but rather to the monies which can be obtained from rates. The people of Dunmurry have continually suffered as a result of reckless unrestrained development; indeed after adoption of Water Framework Directive, permission was still given to Develop in a Flood Plane -we'll soon know the consequences. When we join BCC , LCC will be decitified ;a legitimate response to an unprofessional Administration.

Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 29.06.09, 15:48 GMT