MAXIMISING STRANGFORD’S TOURISM POTENTIAL

Simon Hamilton believes that Strangford’s tremendous tourism potential is largely untapped. In September 2007, Simon secured a debate in the Assembly calling on the then Tourism Minister Nigel Dodds to maximise Strangford’s tourism assets. In his comments, Simon called for:

  • Tourist Board Signature Project status for Strangford Lough
  • Adequate funding for the Armagh and Down Regional Tourism Partnership
  • Investment in tourism infrastructure in the area like new hotels

Simon spoke at the NIHF’s Hospitality Exchange event in Belfast in October 2007, where he talked to local hoteliers about how the lucrative market could be expanded.

NEW ROADS LEAD TO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Simon Hamilton recognises the importance of infrastructure to the positive development of the local economy. Simon sits on the Assembly’s Enterprise Committee and is determined to see the NI economy grow and prosper and believes that an improved transport system is an essential ingredient for economic growth, especially in Strangford, which has suffered serious economic setbacks.

In the Assembly chamber and in questions to the Regional Development Minister, Simon has pressed the case for investment in local roads including:

-         the new Newtownards Southern Distributor Road which will run through the proposed Castlebawn development

-         the new A20 Frederick Street Link in Newtownards

-         the A22 Comber to Dundonald road

-         the A20 Newtownards to Portaferry Road

-         Castle Street and Mill Street in Comber

-         the need to tackle growing traffic congestion in Saintfield

Simon has also argued for additional traffic calming measures in Newtownards, Comber and Ballydrain and has taken an interest in the planned rapid transit scheme for Belfast that will extend out to Dundonald.

HAMILTON TAKES INTEREST IN INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

As a member of the Assembly’s All Party Group on International Development and one of only six MLAs elected to serve on the NI Assembly Branch’s Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Simon Hamilton has shown an interest in affairs beyond Strangford.

Simon has spoken in a debate on the crisis in Burma and made his maiden speech successfully moving an amendment during a debate on undocumented Irish in the United States of America.

In September, 2007 Simon joined the First Minister and other MLAs to sign a petition calling for action against abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe.

Simon has also met with several overseas visitors to Stormont including the President of Burundi, the Colombian Ambassador to South Africa and a group of Iraqi MPs as well as Sri Lankan parliamentarians including that country’s Speaker, Minister of Health and Minister of Power.

EASING THE RATES BURDEN

 

Simon is the Deputy Chairperson of Stormont’s Finance & Personnel Committee which has devoted a considerable amount of its work to the subjects of domestic and industrial rates.

The new domestic rating system and the phasing out of industrial de-rating – both introduced during Direct Rule – were widely criticised by householders and manufacturers.

Simon Hamilton has shared concerns regarding the domestic rates system and the impact of full industrial rates on the vital manufacturing sector. Simon and other Strangford MLAs visited Pritchitts factory in Newtownards in August to hear directly how high costs hinder the competitiveness of local business.

Simon has warmly welcomed the freeze of domestic rates and the cap on industrial rates announced by then Finance Minister Peter Robinson in his Budget statement and heralded the moves as beneficial to both ratepayers in Strangford as well as local business.

 

HAMILTON HELPS PROMOTE LOCAL PRODUCE

Simon Hamilton has pressed the case for the better promotion of local produce in the Northern Ireland Assembly. 

He has encouraged the Agriculture Minister to secure protected European Union status for Comber Potatoes, Portavogie Prawns and Strangford Lough Oysters. Simon believes that the protected regional food status which has already been granted to the likes of Cornish Clotted Cream and Arbroath Smokies, has the potential to be an effective tool in marketing local produce.  In November 2007, Simon attended an information event in Newtownards Town Hall for local growers and producers.

Simon also considers the agri-foods industry to be a vital element in preserving our rural way of life and he and some local Councillors visited Willowbrook Foods in Killinchy to discuss their plans to expand their operations and create new jobs.

 

SOCiAL HOUSING IN A STATE OF CRISIS

House prices in Strangford have sky rocketed in recent years. In July, Newtownards was found to be the UK’s property hotspot with average house price rises of 64% last year.

Whilst this is good news for property owners and investors, it is causing real problems for first time buyers. Many people who want to own their own home are priced out of the property ladder and instead have to seek social housing, putting severe pressure on ever increasing waiting lists.

This is an issue that deeply concerns Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton who says that the social housing crisis dominates his constituency casework. Simon has asked the Social Development Minister dozens of questions about the social housing situation in Strangford and has discovered that the shortage of homes for people in places like Newtownards, Comber, Ballygowan, Saintfield, Moneyreagh, Killinchy and Killyleagh is chronic.

Simon and his Assembly colleague Jim Shannon met with the Minister Margaret Ritchie in Newtownards in November to discuss the issue and visited the Glen Estate, the Movilla Estate and the Scrabo Estate which the Minister designated as an area at risk, which will allow it to access funding to enhance the physical, social, economic and environmental aspects of the area.

Simon has also met with many Housing Associations and has supported attempts to free up unused public land for social housing developments.