New members set to take their seats on Lisburn Council

Mr Poots will be replaced by his personal assistant Paul Stewart, who will represent the Downshire ward and Mr Donaldson will hand over to Lagan Valley DUP Association Chairman Roy Young for the Lisburn South ward.

Speaking after his selection by his party Mr Stewart said: "I am humbled and proud to be replacing Edwin on the Council in June and I would like to firstly pay tribute to Edwin's public service on the Council and indeed his father's service before him.

"I look forward to working alongside the people of Downshire from the outset," he continued. "I will do my best for the people in the area.

"On the day I take up my position my late brother, who died in an accident early this year, will be deeply on my mind. The first half of this year has been very hard and indeed the most difficult period in my life and now replacing Edwin on the Council is one of the proudest moments in my life," he concluded.

Roy Young, who was appointed as Justice of the Peace in 1982 and has been in politics for 37 years, thanked the delegates at the selection meeting for choosing him for the seat.

"It is an honour and privilege to have been selected to replace my good friend Jeffrey Donaldson," said Mr Young. "I would like to pay tribute to the excellent level of constituency work which Jeffrey has achieved during his time in Lisburn City Council.

"The DUP have a strong team on Lisburn City Council and continue to provide a first class reputation for constituency work, I would intend to continue in that vein and provide a good service for the people of Lisburn Town South.

"My areas of interest in the council would be economic development, the management of waste, policing, roads and social problems.

"I can assure the people of Lisburn Town South that I will strive to represent them on Lisburn City Council with integrity and fairness and ensure that their money is spent wisely," he concluded.

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