Councillor Christopher Stalford

Laganbank DUP Councillor Christopher Stalford has pledged his support for the introduction of residents only parking schemes. The DUP Councillor cited the examples of Sandy Row and Lisburn Road, in his council area as two neighbourhoods that would benefit from such new schemes. The issue is currently the subject of consultation, being overseen by the DRD and the deadline for responses is Friday, 9th February 2007.

Speaking today, the DUP Councillor said:

“I welcome the fact that Roads Service has launched this consultation on the introduction of residents only parking schemes. This idea was explored as far back as 1997 but had to be shelved because of the withdrawal of police support. Now that parking is no longer the responsibility of the PSNI, a new opportunity to get the scheme on-line presents itself.

In my council area of Laganbank we have seen the negative effects of not having these schemes. People working in the city centre oftentimes park in residential areas with no regard for local occupants or even the law. On many occasions I have seen cars parked on double-yellow lines in Sandy Row. This situation exists because unscrupulous motorists make a calculation that paying the odd fine now and again works out cheaper in the long run than paying for parking in the city centre. As a consequence residential areas are crammed full of cars belonging to commuters. Residents-only parking schemes should go a long way to alleviate that problem.

I am pleased that this issue is now back on the agenda and I urge everyone in areas such as the Lisburn Road, Sandy Row and Donegall Pass who has been affected by the daily invasion of cars in their area to respond positively indicating their support for the introduction of the scheme” said the DUP man.

DUP Councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford has praised the DUP negotiating team at the St. Andrews talks for securing capping on the rates system and a commitment from the government to deliver a comprehensive relief package for those likely to suffer under the proposed system. The DUP man pointed out that more than 85% of his constituents would have been adversely affected by the introduction of capital based rates here.

Speaking today Councillor Stalford said:

“I want to place on the record the sincere appreciation of myself and hundreds of my constituents for the sterling work the DUP negotiators carried out at the St. Andrews talks. The governments proposed capital-based rating system was a nightmare for many of the people I represent, lots of whom were facing the prospect of selling their homes in order to meet the excessive demands placed upon them by the government. For the DUP to have gone to St. Andrews and secure a commitment from the government that rates will now be capped, despite what David Hanson was claiming only last week, that a cap would not be forthcoming, is a major achievement.

My constituents will be delighted that we have secured this concession, which accompanied by a commitment of a relief package for the most vulnerable in society represents joyous news for those who would have been most adversely affected by the government planned rating system.

Once again we see for ourselves the truth that whilst other shilly-shallied or advocated people going to prison, it was the Democratic Unionist Party that has delivered for hard-working people on the ground who were going to be hit hardest by Hain and Hnason’s smash and grab rating scheme. In Stranmillis, Rosetta (shown), Botanic and Ballynafeigh this news will be most welcome

Christopher Stalford has claimed that the government has no support amongst his constituents and the wider public for its proposed changes to the rating system. He was speaking after attending a public debate on the issue organised by the BBC and held in the Ulster Hall. Councillor Stalford called upon the government to introduce capping and ensure a proper and adequate relief system was introduced to help those most adversely affected by the changes. He also demanded that the new rates system must have enshrined at its heart the ability to pay as a major consideration when calculating people rates. There were approximately 500 people at the event.

Speaking after the meeting DUP man said:

“Firstly I would like to thank David Hanson for coming to the Ulster Hall to face my constituents from Laganbank and people from all over Ulster who are going to be affect adversely by the governments rates proposals. It took guts for the minister to face an audience of 500 people who were almost universally opposed to his proposals. Having listened to the body of opinion in the hall this evening, I hope that the minister will now act upon what he has been told and re-think his rates proposals for Northern Ireland.

I indicated throughout the meeting that I wished to speak, but unfortunately I was not called. Had I been called I would have pointed out to the minister the glaring inconsistency of approach adopted by him, when on his own personal web-page he encourages his elderly constituents to apply for relief in their council tax, whilst in his capacity as a direct rule minister in Northern Ireland he has refused to countenance the introduction of capping and has so far yet to announce the introduction of a relief package for the vulnerable in Northern Ireland, which includes the elderly population. This is the nature of direct rule – applying one system at home on the mainland, whilst treating the population of Northern Ireland with callous indifference.

The overwhelming message from the meeting tonight was that the people of Northern Ireland are demanding a fair system of rates, based upon ability to pay. Government is not offering that: until they do there will be no support whatsoever for their proposals”, said the DUP Councillor.

Below is the text of a speech delivered at the monthly meeting of Queens DUP Association:

The DUP is a devolutionist party. We believe in devolution and we have consistently down through our party history advocated a devolved assembly at Stormont, administering British rule, making decisions affecting the every-day lives of the people of this part of the United Kingdom. We believe firmly that local politicians know better than any direct rule fly-by-nights what’s best for our community.

Indeed while Sinn Fein/IRA were declaring 1972 their year of victory in their attempt to bomb Ulster into a United Ireland, and whilst leading Ulster Unionists spent much of the 1980’s advocating a discredited integrationist approach, it was the DUP that advocated a devolved settlement here. Of course many people will see the extreme irony of Sinn Fein, many of whose members were convicted of terrorist offences aimed at ending British rule in Northern Ireland standing on a position advocating an immediate return to a Stormont assembly. That reality shows just how failed the Provisional IRA’s terrorist campaign is, was and remains. They have failed to deliver their cherished United Ireland.

The DUP has been a consistent voice for devolution. But we must remember why we do not have devolution in Northern Ireland at the present time. Stormont is suspended and devolution is not functioning for one reason and one reason alone – the failure of the Provisional IRA and its political wing Sinn Fein, to live up to the democratic standards expected from every other party in Northern Ireland.

It is their failure to meet those standards that has led to the political impasse that we are facing now and until such times as they meet those requirements there will not be devolution – it is that simple.

In the past others, notably David Trimble took Sinn Fein at their word and look where it got us: stop-start, up-down devolution that was hostage to the whims of P. O’Neill and his colleagues on the IRA Army Council. We will not be going back there.

As my party colleague Ian Paisley Junior said recently support for the police and the rule of law will not be treated by our party as some sort of a quid pro quo: it is a basic and fundamental requirement. The people of Northern Ireland will not tolerate a situation where we have a party in the government of Northern Ireland, enacting laws on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland, while at the same time refusing to support the men and women who will be charged with the implementation of those laws in the PSNI. I welcome the fact that the SDLP has endorsed policing and while we almost certainly don’t agree over everything, particularly the issue of 50-50 recruitment, their democratic credentials are in no doubt whatsoever.

The adverse effects of direct rule are there for all to see: Jim Allister has rightly defined the governments approach as rule by spite in a transparently shameless attempt to force Unionists against their will to accept devolution on unacceptable terms. We will not succumb to such black-mail and remain wedded to our manifesto commitments. Sinn Fein/IRA knows what the conditions and requirements are for a return to devolution – the party’s recently published six-point plan makes that abundantly clear.

It is up to themselves alone to meet them.

DUP Councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford has given his full support to the campaign currently being waged by residents of Sandy Row and Donegall Pass to have a hostel, which houses criminals including sex offenders closed down. The DUP councillor said the residents concerns had not been adequately addressed by either the Northern Ireland Office or the Extern organisation which runs the hostel.

Speaking today the DUP man said:

“The decision to open a hostel, which amongst other criminals houses sex offenders, in the Ventry Street area, has to be one of the most idiotic decision ever taken by a statutory authority. The NIO, in conjunction with Extern, have opted to locate sex offenders within minutes of Botanic Primary School, Blythefield Primary School, St. Malachy’s Primary School, the City of Belfast School of Music, the local cinema, the Robert Bradford Memorial Park and the playing fields at the bottom of Blythe Street as well as local houses. To say this decision represents utter madness is an understatement.

I support fully the action taken by the residents of this area in protesting against the location of this hostel and am demanding answers from the relevant agencies (the NIO and Extern) as to how they can possibly justify what they have done here. I await their response with interest.
Sex offenders are not welcome in my constituency, especially in a highly-developed area, with lots of schools, play facilities and local homes nearby. This hostel must be closed down immediately”, said the DUP Councillor

Below is the text of a letter printed in the Belfast News Letter in response to a letter by Johnny Andrews, UUP Party Officer:

"I respond to the missive from Ulster Unionist Party officer Johnny Andrews (July 26) entitled "Only the UUP can make Ulster work".
Mr Andrews makes several points which I feel are worthy of response. Firstly, he claims "the Union has indeed strengthened as a result of the vision and decisions taken by the UUP in 1998".This is one of the best examples of historical revisionism seen on the pages of this newspaper.Does Mr Andrews seriously think people are so quick to forget what the outworking of the UUP's ill-fated decision to support the Belfast Agreement was?Terrorists released on to the streets after serving only a fraction of their sentences (Sean Kelly served less than a year in prison for every person he murdered on the Shankill Road); name, badge and ethos of the RUC destroyed; 50-50 PSNI recruitment amounting to institutionalised discrimination against the entire Protestant community; Sinn Fein/IRA in government three times without credible decommissioning.If the creation of a lawless society and subvention of democracy in Ulster was the UUP aim in 1998, they certainly excelled themselves, but in terms of strengthening the Union they have been found severely wanting.Secondly, Mr Andrews' lame defence of the decision of Sir Reg Empey to link up with the political representatives of the UVF will be treated with contempt by all right-thinking people everywhere.Unlike Mr Andrews, I come from a working-class loyalist community and I find his statement, "we cannot ignore these deprived loyalist areas; we have an obligation to bring them in from the cold", to be both patronising and self-serving.People know the UUP's dalliance with the PUP had nothing whatsoever to do with engaging loyalist communities and had everything to do with selfish political opportunism.Don't forget they approached at least two MLAs before approaching David Ervine. The UUP were so desperate to get their hands on a third executive ministry that they linked their party directly to an armed and active paramilitary group.Mr Andrews may dress it up in whatever fashion he likes, but he deludes nobody. People know the truth. They know that with the DUP you get honesty, hard work and integrity – values the UUP has yet to discover."

- Councillor Christopher Stalford,DUP Belfast.

DUP Councillor for Laganbank Christopher Stalford has warned that 80% of Laganbank residents will be facing a massive hike in their rates bills under the new capital-value based rating scheme being ushered in by the Labour government. The biggest hikes will be felt in Ballynafeigh (right) where rates are expected to increase on average by £233 per years, Stranmillis were rates will soar by a massive £599 on average and Rosetta were residents can expect to pay on average an extra £259 in their annual bills. The only area which recorded a rates reduction was Shaftesbury, however, Councillor Stalford pointed out that this figure does not include water rates, which the government has threatened to introduce.

Speaking today, the DUP Councillor said:

“This week Belfast residents will be receiving letters informing them of what they can expect to pay in their rates bill. These figures are arrived at by the central government based on the capital value of a persons’ home – a system which I feel is profoundly unfair, especially to our elderly population. It is a source of great concern to me that in the governments analysis of the rateable value of homes in our area, four out of five Laganbank wards are recording an increase in their rates bills. Coupled with the threatened imposition of water rates, we see that even in the ward which recorded a slight reduction (Shaftesbury), residents will be forced to pay more.

Like many people in Northern Ireland, I will wait with baited breath to see if this hike in rates will increase the standard and quality of public services. Somehow I doubt it”