Dungiven To Be Split?

Dungiven To Be Split?

- Orla Mullan

RESIDENTS in the Dungiven area have expressed serious concerns and opposition to the Boundary Commission’s proposals to split the town and outlying areas into three different constituencies.

The concerns come just days after it emerged that the Commission wants to carve the area into different constituencies for Westminster and Assembly elections.

If the proposals get the green light, this would mean Dungiven Main Street would be split down the middle.

The Church of Ireland would be in Mid Ulster while St Patrick’s Catholic Church on the opposite side of the road would be in West Tyrone.

Feeny and Foreglen would also fall under West Tyrone while those living in the Gortnaghey and Burnfoot areas would come under Causeway.

As part of the Commission’s 2018 Review, the number of constituencies in Northern Ireland is being reduced from 18 to 17.

The review process is informed by public consultation and an eight week review into the proposals is currently underway.

The proposals have been met with anger by local residents, with one man branding them ‘ridiculous’.