Two city surprise 'reinforces divisions'

Northern Secretary John Reid was today accused of reinforcing sectarian divisions by opting to grant city status to both Lisburn and Newry.

Craigavon Mayor Samuel Gardiner slammed the decision to create two new cities - one mainly unionist and the other mainly nationalist.

‘‘I think it’s a sad indictment of Northern Ireland.

‘‘There we have the Secretary of State who is still making divisions, while the people of Northern Ireland are trying to work together.

‘‘How can you expect people to come together when further up the ladder they are making such decisions?’’ he added.

Mr Gardiner added it was strange that no other part of the United Kingdom was given two new cities.

‘‘Sadly I have got to say from the Secretary of State’s point of view in my mind it was a political decision.

‘‘That doesn’t help the image of Northern Ireland.’’

Rev Robert Coulter, a former mayor of Ballymena was mystified by the choice.

The North Antrim Assembly member branded Lisburn little more than a suburb of Belfast, while the choice of Newry meant the less populated border regions could now boast three cities.

‘‘We could do with a city in the north east of the Province.

‘‘We already had two cities on the border and we are getting Lisburn which is slap bang beside Belfast.

‘‘I don’t know what they were thinking about. I think it’s a very poor decision,’’ he added.

But as champagne celebrations began in Lisburn, Jeffrey Donaldson, the MP representing the area, hit back, denying the new city was a glorified extension of Belfast.

‘‘We are no mere suburb of Belfast. We are now the fastest growing city in Northern Ireland.

‘‘Lisburn is a forward looking and vibrant community that has a unique identity in its own right,’’ he insisted.

The border town of Newry was also celebrating its success but there was some discomfort among republicans on the mainly nationalist district council.

Sinn Fein had opposed the town’s bid to become a city because of the competition’s links with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

However, council chairman Davy Hyland of Sinn Fein welcomed the decision.

‘‘As a Sinn Fein councillor, I would have concerns in that regard but as chairman I have a wider responsibility for the whole area.

‘‘Most people aren’t hung up on the royal issue. Royalism wouldn’t be a very strong aspect of life here. The main thing is the recognition that it is now a city.’’

The Northern Secretary. who advised the Lord Chancellor to opt for Lisburn and Newry, congratulated the two areas.

Speaking in Washington, Dr Reid said they both deserved their success.

‘‘It is a tribute to the new Northern Ireland that two towns were chosen to be cities - it shows just how far we have come in economic and social regeneration during the peace process,’’ he said.