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'The town is completely dead - we need more help'

Niall McCracken & Cormac Campbell
BBC News NI
PA Media A collection of black bin bags, a light brown carpet and white bin bags on a footpath. They are in font of a brown brick wall with one sign in dark blue which reads 'Coronavirus Covid-19 Site Restrictions' to the left and on the right is a green sign with a tall red light on it which reads 'Restore Don't dump donate your household furniture & electrical goods'. PA Media
There have been bin strikes in a number of council areas, with the biggest being in Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon in 2022

We are 10 years on from the biggest change in local democracy in Northern Ireland.

When the super-councils were formed in 2015, they promised more efficiency and better delivery of services.

BBC News NI visited Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Mid Ulster Council to see how much the super-councils have delivered.

Business rates

As well as domestic rates, one of the key incomes for councils is business rates.

This week homes and businesses will be receiving their rates bill for 2025/26.

Each council sets an annual district rate for their area in Northern Ireland.

It helps pay for public services and projects such as events, tourism, and waste management.

The council fees come in the form of domestic and non-domestic rates, while there is a regional rate set by Stormont.

But with retail habits changing many towns are experiencing increased vacancy on the high street.

At the same time the amount business owners are charged is rising.

A man with grey hair and a grey beard. He is wearing a blue and white striped oxford shirt. Behind him is a street lined with cars and white buildings, one has a red sign which reads 'Friar Tuck's'.
Eamonn Connolly believes the current rates system is killing the high street

Eamonn Connolly is the head of Newry BID, an organisation representing local businesses. He believes the current rates system is killing the high street.

"Rates are an unfair business tax and the net result of that is it expedites vacancies in our urban centres," he said.

"If the current trajectory continues over the next 10 years then we are into a further period of dereliction, of hollowing out our urban cores."

A woman wearing a silver necklace, a black top and a black and white striped hooded body warmer looking at the camera with a slight smile. She is sitting in front of an Easter display behind her right shoulder with flowers, Easter eggs, and a toy rabbit. Directly behind her is a black and white photo of a woman. Over her left shoulder is a blue hoodie hoodie with an animal print heart design and gold glitter details around the neck hanging on a coat hanger.
Downpatrick shop owner Karen Knox says the town is dead

This is a view shared by Karen Knox of K-Chic boutique in Downpatrick.

She said: "I've been in the fashion industry for 20 odd years and there has been a huge change in footfall. The town is completely dead.

"We need more help."

Bins and pay

When super councils formed one of the immediate problems was bringing together staff from different organisations, working to different terms and conditions.

Despite lengthy negotiations, by 2022 these matters had still not been resolved.

With the cost-of-living crisis reaching its peak, below inflation pay offers were the touch paper for industrial action.

There were bin strikes in a number of council areas, the biggest of which was in ABC.

The council saw a mammoth six-week bin strike where mountains of waste lined highways as more than half a million bins went uncollected.

Alan Perry from the GMB union was heavily involved in that strike.

Although the rubbish is long cleared, Mr Perry said issues still remain.

"There are still negotiations in some councils about harmonisation about terms and conditions and this is causing a lot of anger and frustration among the thousands of council staff – many of whom are low paid."

Parking

A man wearing a a black shirt, green tie, and a green and white striped apron. He is is standing in front of a butchers counter smiling at the camera. There are a couple of people in the background out of focus.
Matthew O'Connor believes Maghera could benefit from more parking

Super councils have managed off-street car parks since April 2015.

A perceived disparity in parking regulations is also felt in many council areas.

Matthew O'Connor manages McAtamney's butcher shop in the middle of Maghera where parking is largely free.

But in Dungannon and Magherafelt there is paid parking despite them being in the same council area.

"I know parking charges can put people off sometimes, so I understand why businesses in other towns feel frustrated, so I appreciate we're very lucky that parking is free," said Matthew.

He added: "Having said that I still think that there isn't enough parking in Maghera, we would really benefit from another couple of big car parks."

Identity

A man with short grey hair and a grey beard. He is wearing a white shirt and brown knitted quarter zip underneath a black body warmer which has 'Dungannon enterprise centre' written on it. He is sat on a brown leather quilted chair. In the background is a TV on a black wall with a plant visible to the left of the picture.
Brian McAuley says he does not see himself as a "Mid Ulster" man

As well as merging staff, super councils have also faced a challenge in terms of shaping new identities.

Brian McAuley, the chief executive of Dungannon Enterprise Centre, said many don't identify as being from Mid Ulster.

"Mid Ulster Council area is effectively a big strip around the middle of Northern Ireland that takes in areas that don't always feel that connected," he said.

"I still see myself as a Dungannon man, a Tyrone man, I don't see myself as a Mid Ulster man, and when I talk to people from Cookstown, Bellaghy, Magherafelt, they often say the same.

"Their identity is where they live."

The future

Since their inception, many of the new councils have worked towards their own development plans such as the South Lakes Centre in Craigavon.

But many other council plans now look beyond what their traditional remit has been to include projects including bypasses.

For example, the Belfast Region City Deal of which Newry, Mourne and Down council is a partner includes funding for the southern relief road bypass in Newry.

In Mid Ulster, the council has pointed to progress on the Cookstown bypass which had funding secured through the Mid South West Growth Deal.

A man wearing a heavy wool jacket, a scarf, and a shirt open at the collar. He is standing outside with some cars, some metal bollards, a patch of grass, a bin and a glass and stone building in the background.
Malachy McGrady of Downpatrick's regeneration working group says councils need to do more

The council also said it is working towards a Dungannon bypass.

Malachy McGrady heads ups Downpatrick's regeneration working group.

"Can more be done? Absolutely, can council be more creative? Absolutely," he said.

"But it is going to take time. Nothing changes with a quick fix but we are all giving our time and effort to make a difference."

Many of the challenges have been within council's gift. Others less so.

Strikes, lockdowns, floods, changing retail habits, building bans and planning delays have all had a bearing on delivery – and that's even before political differences in the council chamber are taken into consideration.

At their inception the new councils promised savings over a 25-year period – so perhaps the real marker of performance will be over the next, rather than the initial, 10.