SDLP candidate Liam Logan has called for voters in North Down to shake up the political landscape. "North Down needs a fresh voice in the Assembly to ensure that we get fair treatment and our fair share of resources. At present we have a group of elected representatives who seem to continually wring their hands and plead impotence.

They cry 'It's the fault of everyone else, everyone else is to blame except me.” This is not acceptable. North Down needs elected representatives who will put our case vigorously and persuasively, who will not settle for excuses and second best."

"Look at what is happening to the constituency under our noses. Every green space seems to be going under the hammer with no thought to the consequences for our environment and our heritage. And the Bangor seafront is a stark reminder of the price of inaction. All of North Down has suffered this neglect for too long and something needs to be done. We need a fresh look at the public sector and how it might be put to best use for our needs for today and our needs for tomorrow.

A vote for the SDLP will guarantee the shake up that's needed. Let
your voice be heard and let us help make the future better for all our people, for young people, for parents, for our senior citizens, for minorities of all sorts. The SDLP will work harder and work smarter to ensure that the Assembly gets back up running and working for all our benefits, not having public representatives sitting on their back end doing nothing but collecting fat cheques.

28 February 2007.
 

Logan and McDonnell canvass Bangor market

Liam Logan and Dr. Alasdair McDonnell M.P. (SDLP Deputy Leader) today (Wednesday 21 February 2007) canvassed Bangor market.

Many constituents expressed strong support for the SDLP and Liam Logan, the local candidate for North Down.

Click here to view pictures of the day's activities.

Wednesday 21 February 2007.

 

A 21st Century Recycling Facility and a 19th Century Hospital

A brand new recycling facility and a hospital dating from the Victorian era, this is the contrast in North Down today.  High quality staff delivering high quality services in a sub-standard setting.

We need urgent investment in our infrastructure now to make up for the years of delay, disregard and denial.  Broken promises won’t wash any more.

The SDLP offers people in North Down a real alternative to the politics of squabble and insult. We are a party with a real commitment to partnership government. The waste of the last four years is a studied insult to an electorate with a desire to see our own politicians taking responsibility for our own country.

It is a waste that is not lost on the electorate in North Down.

Click here to see Liam at Bangor's 21st Century Recycling facility and 19th Century hospital.

On the doorsteps and on the streets, people are making clear their anger and upset at the failure of the Assembly to deliver local government. The litany of missed opportunities lost because of senseless sniping among our local politicians, always more anxious to attack each other rather than working together to ensure a better future for us all.

We need schools for our children, jobs for our young people, proper health and social care for older people and an environment fit for us all. We won’t achieve anything by continually bickering and backbiting.

Let us draw a contrast with the much-needed investment in recycling, only achieved after years of neglect and the failure to invest in our health services, schools and environment.

The SDLP offers a chance for change. Let’s take it.  Let’s work together.

Monday 19 February 2007.
 

Liam Logan, SDLP Candidate for North Down, today (Tuesday 13 February 2007) hit the campaign trail with Mark Durkan, SDLP Leader, following submission of his nomination papers at the District Electoral Office in Newtownards.

Click here to view photos of today's activities.

Tuesday 13 February 2007.
 

Liam Logan, SDLP Candidate for North Down today (Monday 12 February 2007) launched his campaign for election to the Northern Ireland Assembly at Queens Parade, Bangor.

North Down SDLP candidate Liam Logan stated "Electors in North Down have only to ask one question; "Have I had good value for money from those representatives I sent to the Assembly four years ago?"  If people feel they have had a poor return, the SDLP offers a real alternative."

The central plank of the SDLP campaign in North Down is the call for a public inquiry into the seafront in Bangor. There are so many unanswered questions which are causing concern to local people. And there are a number of answered questions also giving cause for concern.

People cannot understand why the seafront still stands derelict, why so many promises have been broken and why today, so many years after the event, nothing seems to have been resolved.

Voters on the doorsteps are asking for democratic representation and it is the intention of the SDLP to use the Assembly to call for those responsible for these matters to be called to account. Now is the time of reckoning, give the SDLP the chance to serve the people of North Down.

The SDLP offers an independent voice to people in North Down. "We aren't part of any cosy cartel. We are an independent party who want to see a fair future for all. We want to see more attention paid to the needs of local people." For too long, North Down has been badly served in terms of public investment in our schools, health services, public transport and the environment.

Overdevelopment continues to be a problem in all parts of the constituency which, apparently, no-one can do anything about, particularly elected representatives. On the rare occasions when they see fit to get involved, they are reactive rather than proactive.  Let the SDLP put power in your hands.

People need affordable housing but we also need shared green spaces.

The unseemly haste to sell off public assets needs to be challenged.

People feel divorced from the decision making process and the people of North Down need this democratic deficit to be redressed.

Policing is a vital part of any fair society and the SDLP continues to campaign for additional resources to be deployed here in North Down.

For too long North Down has been last in the queue when priorities are being decided.

As part of Liam's commitment to listen to the views of North Down constituents, he will engage in an online chat every Thursday during the election from 9.00pm to 10.00pm. To chat with Liam simply download MSN Messenger, sign up for an ID and add info@sdlpnorthdown.org to your contacts.

Monday 12 February 2007.
 

SDLP welcome Police Ombudsman to Annual Dinner

SDLP Bangor Branch welcome Nuala O'Loan, Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland to it's 2007 Annual Dinner on Friday 26 January 2007.

Liam Logan, SDLP Bangor Branch Chairperson, welcomed Nuala who then delivered a interesting speech outlining the role of her office.

Action demanded on Road Safety hazard at Castle Park Avenue

Liam Logan, SDLP Bangor Branch Chairman, today (Wednesday 18 October 2006) launched a campaign to address the serious Road Safety hazard to pedestrians created by the lack of a crossing, zebra, pelican or otherwise, at the foot of Castle Park Avenue.

SDLP speaks out on Queens Parade

SDLP Bangor Branch today (Wednesday 18 October 2006) spoke out on the Queens Parade development saga. Branch Chairman, Liam Logan, emphasised that any developments at the seafront site (Queen's Parade) will have a knock on effect all through Bangor and there is an onus on all relevant agencies to urgently carry out a comprehensive review of traffic patterns and flows in the whole town including possibly a redesign of the existing one way system. Liam stated "This would be a golden opportunity for hard pressed local traders to have a say in any redesign and ensure that this is an opportunity to stimulate the regeneration of Bangor as a shopping destination. The question of the market could also be examined in this context."

Wednesday 18 October 2006.
 

Click here to visit the Lisa Dorrian web site to find out more about Lisa and submit any information you may have to help the family find Lisa.

Click here to download a poster

Click here to download a car sticker.




 

Commenting on the recent decision by North Down Borough Council to ban SDLP representation at forthcoming Women into Politics debate, Liam Logan (SDLP Bangor Branch Chairperson) commented "The SDLP is and will remain fully committed to a policy of inclusion. This is because it is a policy which offers hope to our community, which promises that all voices will be heard. The recent decision by North Down Borough Council to deny a platform to the SDLP at a Women into Politics seminar  is petty, undemocratic and totally unrepresentative of the people of North Down. People in North Down may not have voted for the SDLP in sufficient numbers to afford the party a seat on the council but they have listened to our message with courtesy on the hustings, they have met us on their doorsteps with civility and they will, I have absolutely no doubt, over time become convinced of the wisdom of our policies and the quality of our candidates and will elect SDLP representatives to whatever forum replaces North Down Borough Council.

Trying to stamp out the SDLP by denying them a platform is not going to make us go away, we will not lie down in the face of persecution. I have an unequivocal message for those who try to deny our existence by airbrushing us out of the picture, we are here and we intend to stay.

This ban is a retrograde step harking back to an earlier time when local government was run as an exclusive club. Those days are gone and gone forever and no amount of passing motions in council will bring them back.

I am delighted that our political opponents are so afraid of us that they feel the need to resort to these tactics in an attempt to put us down. They will not succeed. We have overcome these type of obstacles in the past, we are ready for whatever our enemies throw at us. The voters will remember these actions."

Click here to download Bangor Spectator article entitled "SDLP hits back at Council ban" dated 6 April 2006

Click here to download Bangor Spectator article entitled "Move was 'not helpful'" dated 6 April 2006.
 

SDLP voice concern on Council ban

Letter to the editor of Bangor Spectator

Click here to download letter to Bangor Spectator article by Liam Logan entitled "Why shouldn't SDLP member be on policing watchdog?"
 

SDLP North Down Representative Liam Logan has strongly condemned the shooting in Elmwood Drive in Bangor last night.

Mr Logan said, “Yet again Bangor has witnessed a serious and dangerous shooting. Those responsible have no respect for human life. They came hiding their faces with masks as the shot down a young man in front of his partner. Many of us thought these days were a thing of the past. But this just proves there is still the evil threat of gunmen in this society.

“People have a right not to feel afraid in their own homes and as long as these sinister elements are allowed to go unpunished we cannot hope to have a decent society fit for all our people. I appeal to anyone who may have any information of this attack to come forward to police without delay.”
 

SDLP North Down Representative Liam Logan has expressed shock at the hammer attack on teenage girl in Bangor last night.

Mr Logan said, “I am shocked by the brutality of this vicious attack on a young woman. No motive can ever justify such violent behaviour. My thoughts are with the 18-year-old victim who is in hospital today recovering.

“This attack was carried out in broad daylight and I would appeal to local people who may have notice anything to come forward to help police track down the man responsible.”
 

Residents' worry at park being open to development
From Community Telegraph, 20 April 2005:

Bangor West residents have this week expressed horror that North Down Borough Council has requested a playing park in the area to be zoned for possible development.

And Bangor West Conservation Group has vowed to "mount the most ferocious opposition" to potential development of Connor Park, including legal action in order to preserve the land in its current state.

Although no planning permission has been sought and no decision has been made on the future of the council owned park land, local residents are concerned that the playing fields and pathways leading to the coastal path may be sold to a developer in the future.

To view entire article available please click here