Ards (borough): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 54°31′16″N 5°44′49″W / 54.521°N 5.747°W / 54.521; -5.747
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
disambiguator not needed here
 
(29 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|District of Northern Ireland (1973–2015)}}
⚫
{{coord|54.521|-5.747|region:GB_scale:50000|display=title}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
{{Infobox UK place


Line 6: Line 7:
| country = Northern Ireland
| country = Northern Ireland
| static_image_name =
| static_image_name =
| static_image_2_name = [[File:Ards in Northern Ireland.svg|250px]]
| static_image_2_name = Ards in Northern Ireland.svg
| area_total_km2 = 376
| area_total_km2 = 376
| area_footnotes = <br>[[List of districts in Northern Ireland by area|Ranked 20th of 26]]
| area_footnotes = <br />[[List of districts in Northern Ireland by area|Ranked 20th of 26]]
| statistic_title = District HQ
| statistic_title = District HQ
| statistic = [[Newtownards]]
| statistic = [[Newtownards]]
Line 15: Line 16:
| statistic_title2 = Protestant
| statistic_title2 = Protestant
| statistic2 = 76.9%
| statistic2 = 76.9%
| councillor1 = '''[[Members of the 4th Northern Ireland Assembly|MLAs]]'''<br>[[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]: 6 <br /> [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]]: 2 <br /> [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]: 2 <br /> [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]]: 1 <br /> [[Green Party in Northern Ireland|Green Party]]: 1
| councillor1 = '''[[Members of the 4th Northern Ireland Assembly|MLAs]]'''<br />[[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]]: 6 <br /> [[Ulster Unionist Party|UUP]]: 2 <br /> [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]: 2 <br /> [[UK Independence Party|UKIP]]: 1 <br /> [[Green Party in Northern Ireland|Green Party]]: 1
| councillor2 = '''[[List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 2010|MPs]]'''<br>[[Sylvia Hermon]] ([[Independent (politician)|Independent]]) <br /> [[Jim Shannon]] (DUP)
| councillor2 = '''[[List of MPs elected in the 2010 United Kingdom general election|MPs]]'''<br />[[Stephen Farry]] ([[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]]) <br /> [[Jim Shannon]] (DUP)
| website = {{URL|http://www.ards-council.gov.uk}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.ards-council.gov.uk}}
| hide_services = yes
| hide_services = yes
}}
}}
'''Ards''' (named after the [[Ards Peninsula]]) is a [[Districts of Northern Ireland|local government district]] in [[Northern Ireland]] with the [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|status of borough]]. It is one of twenty-six districts formed on 1 October 1973, and has its headquarters in [[Newtownards]]. Other towns include [[Portaferry]], [[Comber]], and [[Donaghadee]], and the population of the area was 78,078 according to the 2011 census.
'''Ards''' (named after the [[Ards Peninsula]]) was a [[Districts of Northern Ireland|local government district]] in [[Northern Ireland]] with the [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|status of borough]]. It was one of twenty-six districts formed on 1 October 1973, and had its headquarters in [[Newtownards]]. It was merged with neighbouring [[North Down Borough Council|North Down]] on 1 May 2015 to form the new Borough of [[Ards and North Down]]. Other towns in the defunct Borough included [[Portaferry]], [[Comber]], and [[Donaghadee]], and the population of the area was 78,078 according to the 2011 census.


[[Strangford Lough]] is at the heart of the area, and is the largest inlet in [[Ireland]] with internationally renowned wildlife. The [[Irish Sea]] coast stretches from Donaghadee to Portaferry. [[Mount Stewart]], a [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] property on the shore of Strangford Lough is in the area, as well as Northern Ireland’s only [[aquarium]], Exploris, in Portaferry and [[Grace Neill's]] pub in Donaghadee.
[[Strangford Lough]] is at the heart of the area, and is the largest inlet in [[Ireland]] with internationally renowned wildlife. The [[Irish Sea]] coast stretches from Donaghadee to Portaferry. [[Mount Stewart]], a [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] property on the shore of Strangford Lough, is in the area, as well as Northern Ireland's only [[aquarium]], Exploris, in Portaferry and [[Grace Neill's]] pub in Donaghadee.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}


==Borough council==
==Borough council==
The borough is governed by Ards Borough Council ([[Ulster Scots dialects|Ulster-Scots]]: ''Burgh Cooncil o' the Airds, Newton an' Blathewick''). The borough is divided into four district electoral areas: Newtownards, Ards West, Ards East and [[Ards Peninsula]], from which 23 members are elected. As of February 2011 the following parties are represented on the council: 11 [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP), 6 [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP), 4 [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]], and 1 [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP), and there are one [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] councillors.<ref name=council>{{cite web |url=http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/the-council/councillors/index.php |title=Councillors |publisher=Ards Borough Council |accessdate=18 February 2011}}</ref> The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on April 25, 2008, [[Shaun Woodward]], [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7367253.stm ''Northern Ireland elections are postponed'', BBC News, April 25, 2008, accessed April 27, 2008]</ref> The proposed reforms were abandoned in 2010, and [[Northern Ireland local elections, 2011|district council elections took place in 2011]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/10314865.stm |title=The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform |author= |date=15 June 2010 |work= |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=8 July 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100618044336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/10314865.stm| archivedate= 18 June 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
The borough was governed by [[Ards Borough Council]] ([[Ulster Scots dialects|Ulster-Scots]]: ''Burgh Cooncil o' the Airds, Newton an' Blathewick''). The borough was divided into four district electoral areas: Newtownards, Ards West, Ards East and [[Ards Peninsula]], from which 23 members were elected. As of February 2011 the following parties were represented on the council: 11 [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP), 6 [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP), 4 [[Alliance Party of Northern Ireland|Alliance Party]], and 1 [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] (SDLP), and there was 1 [[Independent (politics)|Independent]] councillor.<ref name=council>{{cite web|url=http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/the-council/councillors/index.php |title=Councillors |publisher=Ards Borough Council |access-date=18 February 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516104350/http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/the-council/councillors/index.php |archive-date=16 May 2011 }}</ref> The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on 25 April 2008, [[Shaun Woodward]], [[Secretary of State for Northern Ireland]] announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7367253.stm ''Northern Ireland elections are postponed'', BBC News, April 25, 2008, accessed April 27, 2008]</ref> The proposed reforms were abandoned in 2010, and [[2011 Northern Ireland local elections|district council elections took place in 2011]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/10314865.stm |title=The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform |date=15 June 2010 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=8 July 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100618044336/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/10314865.stm| archive-date= 18 June 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref>


===Mayor of Ards===
===Mayor of Ards===
On creation in 1973 Ards District Council adopted the [[royal charter|charter of incorporation]] of the [[municipal borough]] of Newtownards, to become Ards Borough Council. The charter also granted the chairman of the council the title "Mayor of Ards".<ref>the Charter of the Corporation of the Borough of Newtownards shall have effect in relation to the District of Ards... the name in the Charter shall be changed to Ards Borough Council.{{London Gazette |issue=2917 |date=24 August 1973 |startpage=529 |city=b }}</ref>
On creation in 1973 Ards District Council adopted the [[royal charter|charter of incorporation]] of the [[municipal borough]] of Newtownards, to become Ards Borough Council. The charter also granted the chairman of the council the title "Mayor of Ards".<ref>the Charter of the Corporation of the Borough of Newtownards shall have effect in relation to the District of Ards... the name in the Charter shall be changed to Ards Borough Council.{{London Gazette |issue=2917 |date=24 August 1973 |page=529 |city=b }}</ref>


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
Line 39: Line 40:
|1973 - 75
|1973 - 75
|John Algie
|John Algie
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|D. Hamilton
|D. Hamilton
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1975 - 77
|1975 - 77
|Henry Cosbey
|Henry Cosbey
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|J. B. Caughey
|J. B. Caughey
{{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
| {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}}
|-
|-
|1977 - 79
|1977 - 79
|John Scott
|John Scott
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Hamilton McKeag
|Hamilton McKeag
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1979 - 81
|1979 - 81
|Hamilton McKeag
|Hamilton McKeag
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Robert Gaw
|Robert Gaw
{{Party name with colour|Northern Ireland Labour Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Northern Ireland Labour Party}}
|-
|-
|1981 - 83
|1981 - 83
|Robert Gaw
|Robert Gaw
{{Party name with colour|Northern Ireland Labour Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Northern Ireland Labour Party}}
|Jim McBriar
|Jim McBriar
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|-
|-
|1983 - 84
|1983 - 84
|Jim McBriar
|Jim McBriar
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|Oliver Johnston
|Oliver Johnston
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1984 - 85
|1984 - 85
|Oliver Johnston
|Oliver Johnston
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Gladys McIntyre
|Gladys McIntyre
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1985 - 86
|1985 - 86
|Gladys McIntyre
|Gladys McIntyre
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Popular Unionist Party}}
|Robert Ambrose
|Robert Ambrose
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1986 - 87
|1986 - 87
|Robert Ambrose
|Robert Ambrose
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Simpson Gibson]]
|[[Simpson Gibson]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1987 - 88
|1987 - 88
|[[Simpson Gibson]]
|[[Simpson Gibson]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|[[Tom Benson (politician)|Tom Benson]]
|[[Tom Benson (politician)|Tom Benson]]
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1988 - 89
|1988 - 89
|[[Tom Benson (politician)|Tom Benson]]
|[[Tom Benson (politician)|Tom Benson]]
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|John Hamilton
|John Hamilton
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1989–1990
|1989–1990
|John Hamilton
|John Hamilton
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Robert Gibson
|Robert Gibson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1990 - 91
|1990 - 91
|Robert Gibson
|Robert Gibson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[Jim Shannon]]
|[[Jim Shannon]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1991 - 92
|1991 - 92
|[[Jim Shannon]]
|[[Jim Shannon]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|David Smyth
|David Smyth
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1992 - 93
|1992 - 93
|David Smyth
|David Smyth
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Wilbert Magill
|Wilbert Magill
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1993 - 94
|1993 - 94
|Wilbert Magill
|Wilbert Magill
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|John Shields
|John Shields
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1994 - 95
|1994 - 95
|John Shields
|John Shields
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|St Clair McAlister
|St Clair McAlister
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|1995 - 96
|1995 - 96
|St Clair McAlister
|St Clair McAlister
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Robert Gibson
|Robert Gibson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|June - December 1996
|June - December 1996
|Robert Gibson
|Robert Gibson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Ronnie Ferguson
|Ronnie Ferguson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|January - June 1998
|January - June 1998
|Ronnie Ferguson
|Ronnie Ferguson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|[[George Ennis]]
|[[George Ennis]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|June 1998 - June 1999
|June 1998 - June 1999
|[[George Ennis]]
|[[George Ennis]]
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Alan McDowell
|Alan McDowell
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|-
|-
|1999–2000
|1999–2000
|Alan McDowell
|Alan McDowell
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|[[Tom Hamilton (politician)|Tom Hamilton]]
|[[Tom Hamilton (politician)|Tom Hamilton]]
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2000 - 01
|2000 - 01
|[[Tom Hamilton (politician)|Tom Hamilton]]
|[[Tom Hamilton (politician)|Tom Hamilton]]
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Margaret Craig
|Margaret Craig
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2001 - 02
|2001 - 02
|Margaret Craig
|Margaret Craig
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Jeff Magill
|Jeff Magill
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2002 - 03
|2002 - 03
|Jeff Magill
|Jeff Magill
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Jim McBriar
|Jim McBriar
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|-
|-
|2003 - 04
|2003 - 04
|Jim McBriar
|Jim McBriar
{{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
| {{Party name with colour|Alliance Party of Northern Ireland}}
|Hamilton Gregory
|Hamilton Gregory
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2004 - 05
|2004 - 05
|Hamilton Gregory
|Hamilton Gregory
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Angus Carson
|Angus Carson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2005 - 06
|2005 - 06
|Terry Williams
|Terry Williams
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Angus Carson
|Angus Carson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2006 - 07
|2006 - 07
|Angus Carson
|Angus Carson
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Robin Drysdale
|Robin Drysdale
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2007 - 08
|2007 - 08
|Robin Drysdale
|Robin Drysdale
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Jim Fletcher
|Jim Fletcher
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2008 - 09
|2008 - 09
|Jim Fletcher
|Jim Fletcher
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|William Montgomery
|William Montgomery
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2009 - 10
|2009 - 10
|William Montgomery
|William Montgomery
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|David Smyth
|David Smyth
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2010 - 11<ref name=council/>
|2010 - 11<ref name=council/>
|David Smyth
|David Smyth
{{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Ulster Unionist Party}}
|Mervyn Oswald
|Mervyn Oswald
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2011 - 12
|2011 - 12
|Mervyn Oswald
|Mervyn Oswald
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Hamilton Gregory
|Hamilton Gregory
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|-
|-
|2012 - 2013
|2012 - 2013
|Hamilton Gregory
|Hamilton Gregory
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|Stephen McIlveen
|Stephen McIlveen
{{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
| {{Party name with colour|Democratic Unionist Party}}
|}
|}
2013 Stephen McIlveen
2013 Stephen McIlveen
Line 254: Line 255:
==Parliamentary and assembly representation==
==Parliamentary and assembly representation==


In elections for the [[Westminster Parliament]] and [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] most of the borough is included in the [[Strangford (Assembly constituency)|Strangford]] constituency, with part (Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South and Millisle) in the [[North Down (Assembly constituency)|North Down]] constituency.<ref>{{UK SI
In elections for the [[Westminster Parliament]] and [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] most of the borough was included in the [[Strangford (Assembly constituency)|Strangford]] constituency, with part (Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South and Millisle) in the [[North Down (Assembly constituency)|North Down]] constituency.<ref>{{UK SI
| year =2008
| year =2008
| number =1486
| number =1486
Line 260: Line 261:
| url =http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1486/schedule/made
| url =http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/1486/schedule/made
| title =The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
| title =The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
| isbn =
| made = 11 June 2008
| made = 11 June 2008
| laid =
| laid =
Line 268: Line 268:


==Town twinning==
==Town twinning==
The borough of Ards has a [[sister city]] (twinning) relationship with the city of [[Peoria, Arizona]], USA. As a result of this relationship, regular exchange visits are made between the two communities by artists, educators, business, political, and community leaders.
The borough of Ards had a [[sister city]] (twinning) relationship with the city of [[Peoria, Arizona]], USA. As a result of this relationship, regular exchange visits were made between the two communities by artists, educators, business, political and community leaders.


==See also==
==See also==
Line 277: Line 277:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/ Ards Borough Council]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040526182524/http://www.ards-council.gov.uk/ Ards Borough Council]
*[http://www.armaghanddown.com Armagh & Down Tourism]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051124234005/http://www.armaghanddown.com/ Armagh & Down Tourism]


{{Local government in Northern Ireland}}
{{1972 districts of Northern Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2011}}

⚫
{{Coord|54.521|-5.747|region:GB_scale:50000|display=title}}


[[Category:Politics of County Down]]
[[Category:Politics of County Down]]

Latest revision as of 19:56, 14 June 2023

Ards Borough
Area376 km2 (145 sq mi) 
Ranked 20th of 26
District HQNewtownards
Catholic12.7%
Protestant76.9%
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Councillors
Websitewww.ards-council.gov.uk
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland

Ards (named after the Ards Peninsula) was a local government district in Northern Ireland with the status of borough. It was one of twenty-six districts formed on 1 October 1973, and had its headquarters in Newtownards. It was merged with neighbouring North Down on 1 May 2015 to form the new Borough of Ards and North Down. Other towns in the defunct Borough included Portaferry, Comber, and Donaghadee, and the population of the area was 78,078 according to the 2011 census.

Strangford Lough is at the heart of the area, and is the largest inlet in Ireland with internationally renowned wildlife. The Irish Sea coast stretches from Donaghadee to Portaferry. Mount Stewart, a National Trust property on the shore of Strangford Lough, is in the area, as well as Northern Ireland's only aquarium, Exploris, in Portaferry and Grace Neill's pub in Donaghadee.[citation needed]

Borough council[edit]

The borough was governed by Ards Borough Council (Ulster-Scots: Burgh Cooncil o' the Airds, Newton an' Blathewick). The borough was divided into four district electoral areas: Newtownards, Ards West, Ards East and Ards Peninsula, from which 23 members were elected. As of February 2011 the following parties were represented on the council: 11 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 6 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), 4 Alliance Party, and 1 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and there was 1 Independent councillor.[1] The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on 25 April 2008, Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.[2] The proposed reforms were abandoned in 2010, and district council elections took place in 2011[3]

Mayor of Ards[edit]

On creation in 1973 Ards District Council adopted the charter of incorporation of the municipal borough of Newtownards, to become Ards Borough Council. The charter also granted the chairman of the council the title "Mayor of Ards".[4]

Year Name Political affiliation Deputy Deputy's affiliation
1973 - 75 John Algie UUP D. Hamilton UUP
1975 - 77 Henry Cosbey UUP J. B. Caughey Independent
1977 - 79 John Scott UUP Hamilton McKeag UUP
1979 - 81 Hamilton McKeag UUP Robert Gaw NI Labour
1981 - 83 Robert Gaw NI Labour Jim McBriar Alliance
1983 - 84 Jim McBriar Alliance Oliver Johnston DUP
1984 - 85 Oliver Johnston DUP Gladys McIntyre UPUP
1985 - 86 Gladys McIntyre UPUP Robert Ambrose UUP
1986 - 87 Robert Ambrose UUP Simpson Gibson DUP
1987 - 88 Simpson Gibson DUP Tom Benson UUP
1988 - 89 Tom Benson UUP John Hamilton DUP
1989–1990 John Hamilton DUP Robert Gibson UUP
1990 - 91 Robert Gibson UUP Jim Shannon DUP
1991 - 92 Jim Shannon DUP David Smyth UUP
1992 - 93 David Smyth UUP Wilbert Magill DUP
1993 - 94 Wilbert Magill DUP John Shields UUP
1994 - 95 John Shields UUP St Clair McAlister DUP
1995 - 96 St Clair McAlister DUP Robert Gibson UUP
June - December 1996 Robert Gibson UUP Ronnie Ferguson UUP
January - June 1998 Ronnie Ferguson UUP George Ennis DUP
June 1998 - June 1999 George Ennis DUP Alan McDowell Alliance
1999–2000 Alan McDowell Alliance Tom Hamilton UUP
2000 - 01 Tom Hamilton UUP Margaret Craig DUP
2001 - 02 Margaret Craig DUP Jeff Magill UUP
2002 - 03 Jeff Magill UUP Jim McBriar Alliance
2003 - 04 Jim McBriar Alliance Hamilton Gregory DUP
2004 - 05 Hamilton Gregory DUP Angus Carson UUP
2005 - 06 Terry Williams DUP Angus Carson UUP
2006 - 07 Angus Carson UUP Robin Drysdale DUP
2007 - 08 Robin Drysdale DUP Jim Fletcher UUP
2008 - 09 Jim Fletcher UUP William Montgomery DUP
2009 - 10 William Montgomery DUP David Smyth UUP
2010 - 11[1] David Smyth UUP Mervyn Oswald DUP
2011 - 12 Mervyn Oswald DUP Hamilton Gregory DUP
2012 - 2013 Hamilton Gregory DUP Stephen McIlveen DUP

2013 Stephen McIlveen Democratic Unionist Party

Source: Freedom of Information request to Ards Borough Council

Parliamentary and assembly representation[edit]

In elections for the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly most of the borough was included in the Strangford constituency, with part (Donaghadee North, Donaghadee South and Millisle) in the North Down constituency.[5]

Town twinning[edit]

The borough of Ards had a sister city (twinning) relationship with the city of Peoria, Arizona, USA. As a result of this relationship, regular exchange visits were made between the two communities by artists, educators, business, political and community leaders.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Councillors". Ards Borough Council. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  2. ^ Northern Ireland elections are postponed, BBC News, April 25, 2008, accessed April 27, 2008
  3. ^ "The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 18 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  4. ^ the Charter of the Corporation of the Borough of Newtownards shall have effect in relation to the District of Ards... the name in the Charter shall be changed to Ards Borough Council."No. 2917". The Belfast Gazette. 24 August 1973. p. 529.
  5. ^ Statutory Instrument 2008 No. 1486 (section Schedule) The Parliamentary Constituencies (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (Coming into force 25 June 2008)

External links[edit]

54°31′16″N 5°44′49″W / 54.521°N 5.747°W / 54.521; -5.747

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ards_(borough)&oldid=1160165746"