By Julie Waters
LOCAL business leaders have blasted the council as being so ‘cautious and slow moving’ that it is trailing in the wake of Northern Ireland’s 10 other local authorities.
In a hard hitting New Year’s statement, Frank Shivers and Derek Wright, joint chairs of the Ards and North Down Business Forum, strongly criticised the council as being ‘increasingly perceived as being behind’ the rest of the province.
Mr Shivers, Bangor Chamber of Commerce president and Mr Wright, Ards Chamber of Commerce president, spoke out on behalf of the local business forum which represents the five local business chambers, including, Donaghadee, Comber and Holywood.
However, council officials have rejected claims that the local authority is ‘slow moving’ stating this does ‘not reflect the scale, pace or ambition’ of the regeneration and economic development currently under way across the borough.
They highlighted a number of regeneration projects including the £72m Bangor Waterfront scheme and £9m Marine Gardens scheme, with ‘tens of millions of committed investment’ set to ‘reshape Bangor over the next five years’.
But the business leaders have called on the local authority to ‘raise its game’ saying it was ‘essential’ council bosses showed ‘stronger ambition, embrace best practice and genuinely partner with its business community’ so it can deliver for ratepayers and unlock the borough’s full potential.
Levelling harsh criticism at the council, the business chiefs stated: “When compared with the other 10 councils across Northern Ireland, Ards and North Down is increasingly perceived as being behind.
“Elsewhere, councils are driving regeneration, accelerating town centre renewal, embracing innovation and actively supporting businesses to invest, expand and create jobs. Here, progress can feel painfully slow, with good intentions not always translating into timely or tangible outcomes.
“Local businesses consistently highlight frustration with delays, bureaucracy and a lack of meaningful engagement. What businesses want is straightforward: a council that listens, understands the commercial realities and works in true partnership to support growth.”
The business bosses praised Ards and North Down as being a ‘borough full of opportunity’ with ‘strong local businesses, dedicated communities and outstanding natural and tourism assets, there is no shortage of potential for growth and prosperity’.
However, they stated that: “Too many ratepayers and business owners feel that Ards and North Down council is not matching that potential and is operating with limited ambition at a time when bold leadership is required.
“Across the borough, households are facing rising costs and businesses are under sustained pressure from inflation, staffing challenges and changing consumer behaviour. In this climate, every pound collected in rates must deliver clear value.”
The chamber of commerce heads stated that councils should be ‘enablers of growth, champions of their local economy and efficient providers of services’ but that ‘too often, Ards and North Down Council appears cautious and slow- moving, rather than dynamic and forward-looking’.
They called on the council to carry out ‘faster decision making, clearer communication, practical town centre initiatives and a more strategic approach to tourism and regeneration’ saying these steps would ‘go a long way toward rebuilding confidence’.
The business heads said that ‘ratepayers also deserve greater transparency and accountability’ and asked: “How does the council’s performance compare with its peers? What benchmarks are being used, and how is success measured? Being open about performance and learning from councils that are delivering better outcomes is not a weakness, it is a necessity if Ards and North Down is to move forward.”
They stressed that their joint statement was ‘not about criticising for the sake of it’ but rather about ‘setting higher expectations’. “The borough has hardworking residents, innovative entrepreneurs and communities that care deeply about their future. They are entitled to a council that shares that drive and ambition.
“Doing better means setting clear priorities, focusing on delivery rather than process, and placing ratepayers and businesses at the heart of decision making. It means being proactive, not reactive.”
They said: “Ards and North Down council can choose to raise its game. By showing stronger ambition, embracing best practice and genuinely partnering with its business community, it can deliver better value for ratepayers and help unlock the full potential of this borough. This is not only possible – it is essential.”
