Northern Ireland

LISBURN & CASTLEREAGH: New councillor co-opted

Alliance Party chief Sharon Lowry has been co-opted onto Lisburn and Castlereagh Council.

She replaces Castlereagh East Alderman Tim Morrow who stood down last week.

Mrs Lowry has lived in the area for 11 years – and led eight election campaigns.

She said: “I know the area very, very well having canvased it over and over the last couple of years.”

Mrs Lowry will also take Mr Morrow’s seat on the Millmount and Coopers Mill steering committee.

The area is earmarked for hundreds of new homes – but residents say there aren’t enough services as it is.

Mrs Lowry said: “While it’s great to have new developments we just need to make sure the infrastructure is there.”

She added: “That would be a priority to see what the issues are and see how we can help and reassure the residents.”

Mr Morrow stepped down at last week’s council meeting.

The dairy farmer was Lisburn and Castlereagh’s first Alliance mayor.

Sometimes he came to chambers fresh from the shed.

DUP Alderman David Drysdale said: “On the odd occasion he would have come along in t-shirt, shorts and the wellie boots he’d just worn milking the cows.”

Alliance Cllr Owen Gawith said he was a “true Alliance man”.

He added: “You [Mr Morrow] had an outstanding year as mayor, served the whole community right across our city with grace and dignity.”