Councillor Brian Wilson welcomes the Minister’s new policy guidelines on out of town shopping.

Restrictions on out of town shopping will not only limit the expansion of Sprucefield but it will severely reduce other out of town developments. Unfortunately this policy ten years too late and twenty years behind the rest of the UK which gave priority to town centre development and has severely restricted out of town shopping since 1992.

I raised this matter of out of town shopping in the Assembly with a number of previous Environment Ministers but they refused to act arguing that they could not introduce legislation while a decision on John Lewis was pending. Therefore PPS5 in draft form designed to protect town centres has sat on the Minister’s desk while our town centres including Bangor have been decimated.

It is better late than never but for many small, independent retailers it is far too late.

Brian Wilson condemns North Down Council’s refusal to include funding in the 2013/14 estimates for a new Clandeboye play park on the Clandeboye Road.

I was shocked that the DUP Councillors who control the council voted against my proposal to include funding in the estimates for a new Clandeboye Play Park. It is particularly hypocritical when following an excellent presentation by Clandeboye Village Association which represents 6,000 residents the same councillors lined up to have their photos taken and pledge support for the Clandeboye Village Association.

This is evidence of clear discrimination against the children of Clandeboye as over the past 8 years 18 play areas have been provided in various areas of the borough including Redburn, Rathgill, Green Road and Bloomfield over the past year.

I cannot understand why Clandeboye children should be discriminated against. Surely it cannot be on economic grounds as the cost to the average householder for a play park similar to those at Green Road and Rathgill would be around 25p per year.

West Bangor News (Issue 110) by Councillor Brian Wilson of North Down Borough Council.

The Christmas and New Year 2013 edition of West Bangor News includes updates on the Queen’s Parade Development, the petition for Dog Control orders and the creation of new Super Councils in 2015. Also in this edition many important local issues brought by Bangor West and North Down residents. To view full size publication click the images below. Seasons greetings from Councillor Brian Wilson and welcome to 2013 a year of hope and progress.

Adam Harbinson did not Secure a Single Vote from the People of Bangor West and has No Mandate, No Credibility, No Integrity and No Legitimacy.

Adam Harbinson’s decision is not a show of integrity but has in effect disenfranchised hundreds of voters in Bangor West who would never consider voting DUP.

As a fellow councillor and Independant for Bangor West I was amazed to read Adam Harbinson’s torturous attempts to justify his refusal to resign from council and join the DUP.

To any democrat the issue is quite clear Adam Harbinson was appointed by the Alliance Party to represent the Alliance voters who elected the late Alderman Tony Hill. If Adam Harbinson felt he was unable to carry out this role he should have resigned and allowed Alliance appoint someone who is willing to represent Alliance voters and in particular their support for a Shared Future.

Read the rest of this entry »

North Down Mayor Attends Bangor Protest on Abbey Street Bangor.

While I support the right to protest this right must be exercised with discretion as over the past 40 years many peaceful protests have ended with widespread communal violence.

I welcome the fact that Monday’s protest ended peacefully but I was disappointed that two DUP councillors Alex Easton and the Mayor Wesley Irvine ignored Peter Robinson’s appeal not to get involved and turned out to support the protest.

The support shown by the Mayor is particularly disturbing as he is required to represent all the people of the borough. If he is unable to do that he should reconsider his position as mayor.