Alliance welcomes halt to 'super councils' plan

12.00.00am GMT Fri 12th Nov 2004

ALLIANCE Leader David Ford MLA has welcomed the fact that Minister Ian Pearson has postponed the process of reforming local government administration for further investigation.

Mr Ford said:

"It was absolutely clear there was no public support for just seven super councils with no community identity in Northern Ireland. Indeed, it is doubtful whether this was even the best pattern for service delivery.

"I am glad the Minister has seen sense, but I regret that he went so far down this path before realising that what was being proposed did not fit the pattern for democratic accountability.

"Alliance will continue to argue for more effective and efficient local services which take account of local feelings. However, the 'super councils' plan bore absolutely no relation to the daily reality of the lives that people here lead.

"Unfortunately, the plans drawn up by people in civil service administration did not meet the needs of ordinary people right across Northern Ireland."