Ex-council chairman bids fond farewell to local politics

Ex-council chairman bids fond farewell to local politics

24 May 2023

ROWALLANE Ulster Unionist councillor Robert Burgess — who lost his seat after more than two decades — says it is with a “heavy heart” that he bids farewell.

Co-opted to the former Down Council to replace Bill Biggerstaff, Mr Burgess fought his first council election in 2001, securing 1,113 votes.

He is a former council chairman and was also president of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association.

Mr Burgess, who went to the election count centre in Newry late last Saturday afternoon after official confirmation that he had lost his seat, said he was “extremely grateful” to everyone who supported him at council elections.

He also praised those all those who stepped up and supported him during the most recent election campaign and others he has fought over the past two decades.

“The often thankless task of knocking on doors looking for votes is not for the fainthearted and I will always be eternally grateful for everyone who helped and supported me,” Mr Burgess continued.

“For the last 24 years I have dedicated myself to the task of making people’s rates work hard to provide so many worthwhile projects and schemes in the Rowallane area.  

“In Saintfield, perhaps my greatest achievement was helping secure the new community centre which took many years of hard negotiation. And while there was much negative opposition, with the help and support of others, I was successful.”

Mr Burgess said among other projects he was delighted to be involved in were the provision of a new football pitch for Saintfield and lighting at the cricket club car park. 

“The new hockey pitch was finally delivered, with upgraded floodlighting to follow shortly,” he continued. “And the upgrade of the Downpatrick Street car park has been secured with new electric charging points to be installed soon.”

Mr Burgess was also instrumental in securing new footpaths on the Ballynahinch Road and at Station Road heading to the Windmill Road in his home town of Saintfield, providing residents with safe pedestrian access in these particular areas. 

He also secured investment for an upgrade of the New Line play park kick-about area in the town and infrastructure improvements at the bottom of Main Street. 

Mr Burgess was also instrumental in successfully lobbying for new play parks at the Bridge Community Centre in Killyleagh, Lislea Drive in Crossgar and at Darragh Cross, alongside upgrades at Kilmore playing fields, the kick-about area at the Ballynahinch Community Centre and the town’s riverside walk.

Mr Burgess supported plans which paved the way for a new war memorial in Ballynahinch and new streetscape schemes in at The Square in Saintfield and in Killyleagh, while he worked with roads officials to secure investment for the Temple roundabout constructed several years ago and the upgrade of the A7 towards Doran’s Rock outside Saintfield.

“These and many other initiatives have seen millions of pounds spent in Rowallane and more specifically Saintfield,” Mr Burgess continued.

“Planning difficulties are a big part of councillors’ queries and I have successfully represented hundreds of people with their applications over the past 24 years. I was delighted to have been council chairman and President of Northern Ireland Local Government Association. I was also chairman of the East Border Region Committee.”

Mr Burgess extended his congratulations to the five successful Rowallane candidates and said he hoped they will continue working on some of the projects he was heavily invested in, including improving a section of the busy A7 from Doran’s Rock to Rowallane Garden.

“There is an urgent need for a new footpath at the Comber Road in Killyleagh from the Showgrounds to the Broadmeadow and the upper part of Saintfield Main Street has not yet been resurfaced,” he said.

“There are also a number of footpaths where paving stones need to be replaced with tarmac, new public toilets for Saintfield and delivery of the Ballynahinch bypass.”

Mr Burgess also thanked staff at the former Down Council and its successor, Newry, Mourne and Down for their help and support during his time in local government.