Election Cycle 2016 – Fermanagh & South Tyrone
At the start of April 2016 the President of Cycling UK (and Channel 4 News presenter) Jon Snow contacted all Northern Ireland Assembly Election candidates to ask for their support in three simple policy asks around cycling investment, building a greenway network and delivering an Active Travel Act.
The responses received from candidates standing in Fermanagh & South Tyrone will be listed below. You can also click on each name to contact your local candidates through Twitter or Facebook to ask them to respond if they haven’t already. (Social media contact details are not available for some candidates.)
| Name | Party | Investment | Greenways | Legislation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosemary Barton | UUP | ? | ? | ? |
| Comments: | ||||
| Kerri Blyberg | Alliance | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “The Alliance Party is fully committed to the delivery of first class integrated, sustainable and active travel for the people of Northern Ireland and recognises the multiple health, environmental, social and economic benefits of cycling in particular.
“Chris Lyttle chaired the All Party Assembly Group on Cycling and to work with organisations like Sustrans NI and NI Greenways to mobilise MLAs in support of cycling. “The APG on Cycling hosted a number of important stakeholder events to facilitate supportive input from MLA and NGOs into the Assembly Regional Development Committee Cycling Inquiry and the Department for Regional Development Cycling Strategy. “The APG on Cycling also hosted and participated in events to promote Bike Week and the Sustrans/DRD Cycling Unit Belfast Bike Life Report which has established public support for increased investment in cycling provision. “Alliance has also submitted multiple cycling related questions to Regional Development Ministers to support enhanced cycle provision and to raise awareness of underinvestment in comparison with other regions, which DRD has estimated will decrease from £4.17 per head of population in 2014/15 to only £1.30 per head of population for 2015/16. “Alliance Party MLAs will therefore fully support a wide range of enhanced cycling provision in Northern Ireland, including:
“We will work with everyone to make this the best cycling region in these islands.” |
||||
| Donald Crawford | TUV | ? | ? | ? |
| Comments: | ||||
| John Feely | Sinn Féin | ? | ? | ? |
| Comments: | ||||
| Phil Flanagan | Sinn Féin | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “I am happy to support these three aims.” | ||||
| Arlene Foster | DUP | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “In our manifesto the DUP has committed to developing a Greenway Network across Northern Ireland that provides traffic-free space for walkers and cyclists for both leisure and commuting. These proposals will be an opportunity for partnership work between the new Department of Infrastructure and the 11 new Councils.
“Obviously the development of any such network will require significant investment, we have not set a specific spending target. The promotion of cycling however also fits with our commitment to promote public health and to encourage active and healthy aging. Investment in activities such as cycling can help reduce the amount spent on tackling issues such as obesity.
“Within the manifesto there is not a specific commitment to legislation on the issue, but we would certainly be happy to examine proposals were they to come forward.”
|
||||
| Michelle Gildernew | Sinn Féin | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “As a candidate in the Assembly elections I’m happy to support your three pledges. I was also delighted to support cycling organisations such as Sustrans when I was Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and worked with schools across the north to help develop ‘Safe Routes to Schools’. Good luck in your campaign and I look forward to helping deliver these commitments.” | ||||
| Damien Harris | NILRC | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “I fully support your three positions. Cycling is good for the environment, good for health and good for easing congestion in towns and cities. We should always encourage people to cycle, particularly in our larger cities. ”
“My election agent, a competitive cyclist and committee member of his local cycling club, showed me your paper when I launched my campaign.”
|
||||
| Tanya Jones | Greens | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “As you will be aware the Green Party champions cycling and other forms of sustainable travel. For too long Northern Ireland has lagged behind other European countries in terms of cycling infrastructure. The development of the Comber Greenway has been a great boost to those communities who are able to access it. It is time we extended such provisions across Northern Ireland.
“Together with my Green Party colleagues, I commit to campaigning for improved greenway provision, £10.00 per person spend on cycling infrastructure and for legislation to require active travel measures to be considered on all new developments. “On a personal note, I am a regular cyclist myself, and along with my election agent Janie Crone, will be cycling across the Fermanagh and South Tyrone constituency for four days at the end of this month. “With thanks for all you do for cycling and cyclists.” |
||||
| Seán Lynch | Sinn Féin | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “As someone who was on the Regional Development Committee, I fully support the three positions you outlined. We did an excellent report on the benefits of cycling. As part of the evidence gathering process we visited the Great Western Greenway in Co Mayo.” | ||||
| Richie McPhillips | SDLP | ? | ? | ? |
| Comments: | ||||
| Maurice Morrow | DUP | ? | ? | ? |
| Comments: | ||||
| Alastair Patterson | UUP | YES | YES | YES |
| Comments: “I am happy to support all three of your pledges. I believe you are aware of our commitments in our party manifesto, and of course Danny Kennedy’s roll-out of the cycling revolution as DRD Minister.” | ||||
DUP – Democratic Unionist Party
NILRC – Northern Ireland Labour Representation Committee
SDLP – Social Democratic and Labour Party
TUV – Traditional Unionist Voice
UUP – Ulster Unionist Party
If you’re a candidate and would like to share your views on our questions to make Northern Ireland a better place for cycling, then we want to hear from you. Please email us at nigreenways@gmail.com and we’ll update this page as soon as possible.
Election Cycle 2016 is a joint effort by the good people at:
