NEW COUNCIL WILL BE 'EFFECTIVELY BANKRUPT' WARNING
THERE have been warnings that ratepayers in the new Lisburn and Castlereagh council area will have a body which will be effectively bankrupt before it's even got off the ground because of the boundaries which have been drawn up.
Lisburn Council's Director of Environmental Services Mr Colin McClintock said the future of the new body could be in jeopardy before it has even begun.
Speaking after the Boundary Commissioner rejected pleas for Dunmurry, Forestside and Castlereagh Council offices to remain in the new council area, Mr McClintock said: "There has been no recognition given by the Commissioner to the sustainability of the new council.
"There has been no recognition given by the Commissioner to the case put forward by this council."
Agreeing with concerns expressed by Councillor Jonathan Craig that the new council could face what he said amounted to bankruptcy, Mr McClintock confirmed Council officials would be meeting solicitors this week to discuss the way forward, with the possibility of a judicial review not being ruled out.
"There is little room left for consultation and we will now take the best legal advice possible" he said.
Councillors at Monday night's meeting of Lisburn Council's Planning Committee were outraged the Boundary Commissioner insisted Dunmurry, Twinbrook, Lagmore, Poleglass and Kilwee be moved to Belfast, despite a wave of public support for retaining the village in the Lisburn area.
Explaining his decision, the Boundary Commissioner stated: "Assistant Commissioner Good acknowledged the considerable body of evidence relating to the community ties and wishes of residents as expressed at public meetings, correspondence and petitions.
"However, I have concluded that the proposed boundary represented a readily identifiable boundary and recommend no change (to the original recommendation)." Reacting angrily to the decision to remove Dunmurry and to exclude Forestside and the current Castlereagh council offices from the new council, Lisburn councillors called for a judicial review.
Alderman Edwin Poots said the situation was "wholly unacceptable" and that the removal of Castlereagh council offices from the area was "a travesty." He added: "We need to do whatever needs to be done to address this."
Councillor Jonathan Craig said it was clear the "will of the people had been ignored" and that judicial review was the only option. "Quite frankly the residents of Dunmurry, their representatives and their elected members have been treated with total and utter contempt," said Mr Craig.
"The Commission's decision flies in the face of the will of the people in Dunmurry and is a disgrace."
He added that the new council could be faced with no option but to double or even treble the local rates, which are currently one of the lowest in Northern Ireland.
Councillor Brian Heading stated Dunmurry residents would also face much higher rates charges if they were forced to move to Belfast. "It is the height of nonsense that the Boundary Commissioner is corralling people into Belfast so they can meet their budget" he said.
Councillor Margaret Tolerton added Dunmurry residents were devastated by the decision. "I spoke to one 83-year-old woman who has lived in Dunmurry her whole life," said Mrs Tolerton.
"She said if this goes ahead she will have to move because she doesn't want to live in Belfast. She was in tears and she is just one of many. The voice of the people of Dunmurry must be heard."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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