Councillor Christopher Stalford

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”

Laganbank DUP Councillor Christopher Stalford described as "utterly disgraceful" the actions of those who distracted an elderly lady in the Taughmonagh area in order to rob her home. The DUP man has called for increased vigilance amongst the lederly population and a tough policing/criminal justice response to those caught and charged with such offences.

Speaking today Christopher Stalford said:

"The callous actions of the thugs responsible for robbing this elderly person are beneath contempt and highlight the need for extra vigilence amongst our older population, who such low-lifes seem to prey upon. People caught and convicted of offences such as this must be subject to the full rigour of the law and made a public example of through a harsh custodial sentence - I do not think any reasonable person would object to someone who robbed an older person spending at least three years behind bars."

DUP Councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford has condemned the republican thugs from the lower Ormeau Road who launched a vicious and totally unprovoked assault on Orangemen returning home from the annual Twelfth celebrations. As the parade passed the around the Stranmillis embankment to go across the Ormeau Bridge it was pelted with rocks, bottles and cans. Several people were hit. The DUP Councillor claimed that the incident showed the true nature of the republican objectors to parades in the area and called on Gerard Rice to condemn those responsible for the attack.

Speaking today Christopher Stalford said:

“Once again the fascist bully-boys of the republican community are found at their work – assaulting innocent people, hurling sectarian abuse and physically attacking women and children for no other reason than they were Protestants returning home from the Twelfth. Those responsible for this attack, whom numbered around 150 individuals, are beneath contempt and will be condemned by all right thinking people everywhere. It is a miracle someone wasn’t seriously hurt in this incident.

The incident also raises questions about the policing situation in the area. Why were 150 tricolour waving hoods allowed to gather in such close proximity to a parade route? Are the PSNI so naïve that they could not see what was being planned, namely a vicious sectarian ambush?

Gerard Rice, the republican agitator against parades in the area also has serious questions to answer. Will he publicly condemn this wanton sectarian violence in an open and unequivocal way or does his loyalty lie with those who would use violence to stop women and children returning home from the Twelfth field? The public have a right to know where this self-appointed community representative stands”, said the DUP Councillor.

When Alasdair McDonnell was elected as the Member of Parliament for South Belfast he vowed that he would be an MP for everyone in the constituency. Since his election, this high-sounding ideal has been shown utterly false. In his latest attack on the Unionist community, Dr. McDonnell rounded on the community on the bottom of the Ravenhill Road (shown left) over their bonfire, because there are apparently some tires on the bonfire site. This of course follows on from his attack on the people who erected Union and Ulster flags on the Lisburn Road for the annual Twelfth celebrations. When Alasdair talks about being an MP for everyone he clearly doesn't include the 52% of South Belfast voters who voted for Unionist parties in the last election.

Tonight all over Ulster local communities will celebrate William, Prince of Orange's landing in Ireland by lighting the annual Eleventh of July bonfires. In recent years Belfast City Council has spearheaded a bonfire pilot scheme, aimed at improving the sites where wood is gathered and preventing excessive pollution. One of the areas included in the scheme is Annadale, where two years ago, people from outside the community used the bonfire site for illegal fly-tipping. The improvement in the site has been significant, with virtually no fly-tipping and no tires being burned. This is a positive development which I hope will continue. People should be free to celebrate their history and culture without outsiders using it as a chance to break the law.

Like many people accross Northern Ireland I was delighted to see Eileen Paisley take up her seat in the House of Lords (left). Laganbank has a special role in the events of this week, as the predeccesor to our ward (St. George's) was the electoral area that returned Mrs. Paisley in 1967 to the Belfast Corporation.

Accordingly she has taken the title Baroness Paisley of St. George's. Congratulations to Mrs. Paisley who will become a working-peer and has identified education as one of her top priorities.

This evening Belfast City Council will be lauching Orangefest 2006 - a series of events aimed at increasing the awareness of the public around Orange-related issues and the traditional parades of July and August, which culminates in the biggest parade in Western Europe - the Twelfth of July. I wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable marching season.

The article below was in the South Belfast News recently:

"The mother of a young child injured in a traffic collision at the weekend has said that the absence of speed bumps on their street could have cost her daughter’s life. Gillian McIlvenney spoke of her horror as five-year-old Cleona was hit head on by the vehicle outside her home on Florenceville Drive while her terrified 13-year-old sister Kelly-Anne could only look on helplessly.

The incident comes just one week after the South Belfast News revealed that Roads Service had dragged their heels on traffic calming measures for the Windsor Road area where an 18-year-old woman was killed in a car crash two weeks ago. Concerned parents are now calling for immediate action across South Belfast to reduce the risk to their kids. “Kelly-Anne is devastated because she had to see her sister get hit in front of her eyes,” said mum Gillian. “She hasn’t slept or eaten since. Cleona has bruising all over her body and it’s a miracle that she wasn’t more seriously injured. “This area is getting worse for traffic and it’s getting so children can’t even play outside their own homes. It’s used as a short cut for cars and some of them don’t care what speed they are going at. I thank God that my little girl is still alive.” A visibly upset Kerry-Anne also remembered the moment. “I was playing with my friend and Cleona was next to me when this car swerved into her. I saw her hit the bonnet go up in the air and then fall down again. “I don’t think that this would have happened if we had bumps on the road. I don’t think it’s fair that we don’t have them but other streets do and if we had them I don’t think my wee sister would have been hit.”

DUP councillor for Laganbank, Christopher Stalford, called for the immediate implementation of traffic calming measures on both Florenceville Avenue and Whitehall Parade. “Almost all the roads in this area have speed bumps save for these two. You don’t have to be a genius to work out why a child was hit on the road without traffic calming measures. “This time it was a near miss, but next time it could be a child killed. It is simply unacceptable to wait until that happens. “We don’t need any excuses from the Department of Regional Development. We need action and we need it now, before the newspaper headlines make for even grimmer reading.”

I was delighted to have taken part in Ballynafeigh (No. 10) Districts annual Somme Commemoration Parade. The parade was well-attended and hundreds of local people came out to enjoy the music. Congratulations must go to Noel Liggett and the other Orange brethren for a most enjoyable family evening.

I was delighted to be in attendance at the launch of the Sandy Row Community Festival. This years event looks like being an even greater success than last year, with attendance at the launch up greatly on the previous year. I was very pleased that the Lord Mayor came down to launch the festival and wish to congratulate the organisors for their hard work and dedication. If you are in the area please go along and support the events taking place. There is something for everyone!

I have an advice surgery every Saturday between 11am and 1pm in Sandy Row Orange Hall. Please feel free to drop in and see me with any issues you would like addressed.

Hello! My name is Christopher Stalford and I am the DUP Councillor for the Laganbank area of Belfast. Laganbank covers Rosetta, Shaftesbury, Stranmillis, Botanic and Ballynafeigh wards and this blog is intended as a resorce for my constituents to let them know about the work I am engaging in on their behalf and the issues I am raising at council. I also welcome comment from people living outside the area and look forward to engaging postively with people who may disagree with my own views!