Antrim (borough)

Template:NI district Antrim Borough Council is a Local Council in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. It covers an area of some 220 square miles with a population of nearly 50,000 and is situated about 19 miles north-west of Belfast. Antrim borders the north and east shores of Lough Neagh, the largest fresh water lake in the UK, and includes the towns of Antrim, Toomebridge, Crumlin, Randalstown, Parkgate and Templepatrick. The Council headquarters is located on the outskirts of Antrim town. Although the borough is not within the Belfast Metropolitan Area, it houses the city's international airport and many commuter villages.

The borough is sub-divided into three electoral areas: Antrim South-East, Antrim North-West and Antrim Town, from which 19 members were elected. The following political parties are represented: 6 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), 5 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), 2 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 3 Sinn Féin and 2 Alliance Party. Two councillors, Alderman Bobby Loughran and Councillor Oran Keenan, were elected as SDLP and are now designated Independent. These members were elected in 2005 and an election is held every four years using the Proportional Representation system. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected on an annual basis at an Annual General Meeting in June. The Mayor of Antrim is Sam Dunlop (DUP) and the Deputy Mayor is Adrian Cochrane-Watson (UUP).

The next election is due to take place in May 2009. Under the Review of Public Administration, Antrim is due to form part of the new Inner East district.

The economy of the area revolves around construction, distribution, transport and hospitality. It has a well developed transport infrastructure that provides easy access to all the main external gateways for Northern Ireland and all parts of the region. Antrim Town lies on two of the main transport corridors, the Belfast – Derry corridor and the Southern corridor. Belfast International Airport is located within the Borough, only 4 miles from Antrim town.

Together with part of the district of Newtownabbey, it forms the South Antrim constituency for elections to the Westminster Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly.

See Also: Local Councils in Northern Ireland

External Link: Belfast International Airport