The SDLP Lagan Valley is calling on all flags to be taken down within Lisburn Town Centre. The SDLP feel that if the City Council wish to promote “Lisburn - A City for Everyone” then they must earn it and promote a shared public space within Lisburn Town Centre. Every year around this time, in Lisburn Town Centre an Orange Order Arch is erected and the whole town saturated in flags and bunting.

The SDLP  respect the importance of expressing culture and heritage, but these groups cannot be allowed to take over public spaces, in most cases paid for by all the ratepayers, for their own political and sectarian purposes.

SDLP Lagan Valley Sectary and SDLP Youth Member Aisling Twomey said  

“If you ask the majority of people living in, or visiting Lisburn, regardless of their background, they will tell you about the problems around Flags. Residents have contacted me across the boroughs who are concerned by the flying of flags.   The SDLP Lagan Valley feels that no resident should be made to feel uncomfortable in a town or an area that they live in.  We have seen a move by loyalists to mark out new developments in the town; this is totally unacceptable as there are many new residents who don’t claim identity to either community. ”  

However most statutory agencies seem to be impotent to act on this issue. There should be no confusion whatsoever between the general use of flags. All flags that are used in a sectarian way should be removed.  Residents and Rate payers who are opposed to these flags outside their property or on their streets feel intimated to the point where many don’t complain for fear of attack or reprisals.

Ms Twomey continued “ I have been contacted by a gentleman who moved into an area, because he felt that it was a non-sectarian area. This year to his disappointment residents from outside his estate have come in to put up flags outside his property. He feels completely powerless as he was unable to get any action from PSNI.   Where are his rights to have this flag removed from outside of his property?”

Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie praised Lisburn in February 2009 and has emphasised importance of a Shared Future for Lisburn . Speaking at the launch of the City Council Masterplan Minister Ritchie said   “Now is the right time to focus on regenerating Lisburn’s City Centre. Lisburn like many other urban centres must review and reinvent itself in the face of changing economic, social and lifestyle trends.”  

The SDLP Lagan Valley echoes the view of the Minister for Social Development and thanks her for her ongoing work and support for the people of Lisburn.   The SDLP Lagan Valley will continue to campaign for removal of all flags within shared space in Lisburn City and will work towards a shared future for all Lisburn City residents .