SLC – WHY LOCAL COUNCILLORS SHOULD BE ANGRY

Local councillors should be furious.

A democratic accountability failure that directly undermines local government:

WHY LOCAL COUNCILLORS SHOULD BE ANGRY:

1. DfI Is Deliberately Bypassing Local Democracy

From internal memo:

“The connection between Strangford and Portaferry does not form part of the strategic transport network, and is considered part of the local transport network so would be considered within the local transport plans.”

Translation: “This is a LOCAL issue.”

But then:

“These are being prepared in alignment with the councils Local Development Plans (LDP). The Ards and North Down LDP and the Newry, Mourne & Down LDP are two of the LDPs that are least developed. It may be a couple of years before these are ready for consultation.”

Translation: “We’re going to wait for local councils to finish their work… which might take years… and THEN we’ll consider it.”

THE CATCH-22 FOR COUNCILLORS:

DfI says:

  • ❌ “It’s a local transport matter, not strategic”
  • ❌ “Wait for Local Development Plans”
  • ❌ “We can’t make decisions until councils finish their LDPs”

But DfI also:

  • ✅ Already decided it’s economically unviable
  • ✅ Won’t fund a feasibility study
  • ✅ Won’t support SIF application
  • ✅ Blocked it before councils even got to consider it

So councils are told:

  1. “This is your jurisdiction”
  2. “But we’ve already decided NO”
  3. “Take your time with your LDPs though”
  4. “Not that it matters, because we’ve pre-determined the outcome”

2. Two Council Areas Are Directly Affected:

Ards & North Down Borough Council

  • Portaferry is in their area
  • They represent the communities directly impacted
  • Tourism, economic development, connectivity – all council priorities
  • Yet DfI made decision WITHOUT consulting them

Newry, Mourne & Down District Council

  • Strangford is in their area
  • Share responsibility for the Lough
  • Cross-border connections are key to their strategy
  • Also not consulted

3. The £650m Decision Affects Council Budgets:

Current Situation:

  • Ferry costs £2.3m/year (actual £1.1m + depreciation)
  • Who pays? – DfI (central government)
  • Who benefits? – Local communities

If Bridge Built:

  • One-time construction cost
  • No annual ferry subsidy needed
  • £2.3m/year freed up for other transport priorities
  • Better connectivity = economic growth = higher rates base for councils

DfI’s Decision Means:

  • Councils locked into ferry dependency
  • Annual subsidy continues indefinitely
  • No strategic investment in the region
  • Communities remain isolated

4. Councils Have Strategic Plans Being Ignored:

Both councils likely have in their Corporate Plans:

  • ✅ Economic development
  • ✅ Tourism growth
  • ✅ Rural connectivity
  • ✅ Climate action
  • ✅ Regional balance

A permanent crossing supports ALL of these.

Yet DfI says: “Wait for your LDPs, then we’ll ignore them anyway.”

5. The Narrow Water Precedent Matters:

Narrow Water Bridge:

  • ✅ Newry, Mourne & Down Council involved
  • ✅ Louth County Council involved
  • ✅ Cross-border cooperation
  • ✅ Shared Island Fund support
  • ✅ Now progressing to construction

Strangford Lough Crossing:

  • ❌ Ards & North Down Council not consulted
  • ❌ Newry, Mourne & Down Council not consulted
  • ❌ DfI blocked SIF discussion
  • ❌ No cross-border cooperation attempted
  • ❌ Dead on arrival

Why the difference?

Because councils weren’t given a seat at the table.

6. This Undermines Council Authority:

What’s the point of Local Development Plans if:

  • Central government pre-empts them?
  • Major infrastructure decisions made without council input?
  • “Local” transport is decided centrally?
  • Economic development strategy is ignored?

DfI is essentially saying:

“You can have your LDPs, councillors. We’ll wait for them. But we’ve already decided. Your consultation is theatre.”

7. The Democratic Deficit:

Who Was Consulted on the £650m Rejection:

  • ✅ Mark McPeak (unelected civil servant)
  • ✅ Director of Engineering (unelected)
  • ✅ Minister (elected, but rubber-stamped official advice)

Who Was NOT Consulted:

  • ❌ Ards & North Down Councillors (25 elected representatives)
  • ❌ Newry, Mourne & Down Councillors (41 elected representatives)
  • ❌ Local communities
  • ❌ Business groups
  • ❌ Tourism operators
  • ❌ Environmental groups

66 locally-elected councillors represent ~170,000 people in these areas.

They were given ZERO input on a decision that directly affects their constituents.

WHAT COUNCILLORS SHOULD DO:

Immediate Actions:

1. Council Motions (Both Councils):

Sample Motion:

“This Council notes with concern that DfI has rejected consideration of a Strangford Lough Crossing without:

  • Conducting any feasibility study
  • Consulting with this Council
  • Considering Shared Island Fund opportunities
  • Providing evidence for cost estimates

This Council:

  • Calls for a formal feasibility study
  • Requests DfI present to Council the basis for cost estimates
  • Authorizes officers to explore Shared Island Fund options
  • Commits to supporting a community-led assessment

This Council believes local infrastructure decisions should involve local elected representatives.”

2. Joint Council Working Group:

  • Ards & North Down + Newry, Mourne & Down
  • Cross-party (critical for SIF credibility)
  • Terms of reference: “Assess options for Strangford Lough Crossing”
  • Commission independent feasibility study

3. Direct Engagement with SIF:

  • Councils can apply to SIF directly
  • Don’t need DfI permission
  • Narrow Water precedent shows local authority involvement is valued
  • Frame as: “Cross-border connectivity supporting rural communities”

4. Challenge DfI’s Process:

Write to Minister asking:

  • “Why were councils not consulted on a ‘local transport’ decision?”
  • “What is the evidential basis for the £650m figure?”
  • “Why is Narrow Water Bridge considered differently?”
  • “Will DfI support a council-commissioned feasibility study?”

5. Media/Public Pressure:

  • Joint press conference (both councils)
  • “Local democracy bypassed on major infrastructure decision”
  • “Councils demand seat at table”
  • “DfI blocks cross-border opportunity”

THE POLITICAL ANGLE:

This Should Unite ALL Parties on Councils:

DUP: Economic development, regional connectivity, value for money
Alliance: Evidence-based policy, climate action, cross-community
SDLP: Cross-border cooperation, rural communities, Shared Island
UUP: Local democracy, proper governance, community representation
Sinn Féin: All-island infrastructure, SIF, rural investment
Greens: Public transport alternatives, emissions reduction
Independents: Community voice, challenging bureaucracy

Everyone should be angry that:

  1. Local representatives were excluded
  2. No feasibility study was done
  3. Decision made on dubious cost estimates
  4. SIF route blocked without discussion

THE SIGNIFICANT QUESTION FOR COUNCILLORS:

“If DfI says this is a local transport matter that depends on Local Development Plans, why did they make a central government decision to reject it before councils could even consider it?”

SPECIFIC COUNCILLORS WHO SHOULD BE ENGAGED:

Ards & North Down Borough Council:

  • Economic Development Committee Chair
  • Planning Committee Chair
  • All Strangford electoral area councillors
  • Council Leader

Newry, Mourne & Down District Council:

  • Economic Development Committee
  • Planning Committee
  • All Downpatrick area councillors
  • Council Chief Executive (they led on Narrow Water)

THE NARROW WATER COMPARISON IS DEVASTATING:

Issue                   Narrow Water Bridge           Strangford Lough Crossing
Councils Involved       ✅ Yes (NMD + Louth)          ❌ No consultation
Feasibility Study       ✅ Yes (SIF funded)           ❌ Blocked
SIF Application         ✅ Supported                  ❌ Blocked
Cross-border cooperation✅ Active                     ❌ Prevented
Outcome                 ✅ Progressing to construction❌ Dead

Same region. Same councils. Same potential funding source.

Different outcome because councils were empowered for Narrow Water but excluded for Strangford Lough.

BOTTOM LINE FOR COUNCILLORS:

You were told:

  • “It’s a local matter”
  • “Wait for your Local Development Plans”
  • “We’ll consider it then”

But actually:

  • Central government decided
  • Without consulting you
  • Before you had a chance to input
  • Based on evidence they admit doesn’t exist
  • While blocking external funding routes

This is not how local democracy should work.

Councillors should:

  1. ✅ Pass motions in both councils
  2. ✅ Form joint working group
  3. ✅ Commission independent study
  4. ✅ Apply to SIF directly (don’t ask DfI permission)
  5. ✅ Challenge the process publicly
  6. ✅ Make it a democratic accountability issue

The councils have power here. They just haven’t used it yet.

Time to remind DfI that “local transport” means councils have a say.