Coogan throws his hat into the ring to fight for Lough Park

Coogan throws his hat into the ring to fight for Lough Park

BALLYNAHINCH Independent councillor Mickey Coogan has confirmed he plans to seek election to the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council.

Councillor Coogan — who quit Sinn Fein in 2012 to become an independent — has handed in his nomination papers and hopes to secure one of the five seats up for grabs in Rowallane.

Under local government boundary changes, the Ballynahinch area has been subsumed into an an enlarged Rowallane electoral ward and councillor Coogan is confident he can do well when voters go to the polls on May 22.

The former Down Council chairman was first elected in 2005, retaining his seat six years later. He has chaired a number of the local authority’s statutory committees and represented the organisation on various external boards and bodies.

“I have been involved in politics for a long time as a member of a political party, but always felt that the restrictions of party policy and the party prioritising other areas was a significant weakness,” he said.

“As an Independent candidate I hope to complete a number of key projects in Ballynahinch with my main priority being the Lough Park. This project could and should have been completed by now but for political indifference. I believe we now have a solution within our grasp that will allow the completion of the first phase of the scheme.”

Councillor Coogan admitted the new Rowallane electoral area presents “new challenges” for him, but looks forward to working with people in Saintfield, Killyleagh, Crossgar and Shrigley.

“There is a large rural constituency that in my view has been neglected in the Rowallane area and I aim to change that. I have worked with community groups in the Rowallane area while I chaired the Community Safety Partnership to deal with issues around anti-social behaviour and fear of crime.

“I also had the good fortune to meet with community representatives and faith-based groups in the Rowallane area during my term as council chairman,” he continued.

Councillor Coogan said he would like to assure constituents in the Rowallane area that he will deliver for them and will work with the community for the community.

He added: “I have no interest in debating issues around flags, parades and the politics of division. I simply want to improve the area I represent by creating investment and employment, by assisting new and established local businesses and by improving the infrastructure of our towns, villages and rural areas.

“I believe the community is sick and tired of the politics of division and people see this for what it is — lazy politics orchestrated and designed to act as a distraction from the work elected representatives should be doing.

1. “I feel the language of today needs to change if our society is to change and progress. We should no longer think along the lines of two main traditions/cultures or communities. We are one community with a diverse range of opinions and cultures, but we are still one community.”