New councillor looks forward to political career

Believed to be the youngest serving politician anywhere in the UK, 20-year-old Newbuildings man Gary Middleton, was co-opted to replace his DUP counterpart William Hay after the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly stood down after three decades in local politics.

Speaking to the Sentinel in November when he was chosen at a DUP selection convention, Mr Middleton said: "I won't use the word replacement when referring to taking over from William Hay. It will be impossible to replace him, but I think I can become an effective part of an already highly effective team."

The city's newest councillor stepped into the representative political arena for the first time yesterday when he took part in a Planning Committee meeting inside the Guildhall chamber.

Speaking to the Sentinel before the meeting began, Gary said: "I am very excited and I am looking forward to getting in there and getting started on the work ahead."

And, the DUP man was presented with opportunity to get his teeth into debate on issues such as the major retail development at Crescent Link-one which he said directly affects his constituents in Newbuildings as well as other issues that will have an affect on the rest of the rural constituency which he now represents.

However, Mr Middleton did admit to a certain degree of trepidation in advance of his first foray into the council chamber.

"It is a daunting prospect because of my age. It is impossible have all that much experience because of my age, but I regard that as a help as opposed to a hindrance.

"I have a very different perspective on things than a lot of people in the chamber because I am younger. I am coming in here more or less having been a student and I think our party in Foyle is lucky because it has a mixture of youth and experience," he said.

Having secured the nomination from the Foyle Association of the DUP to take Mr Hay's seat on council, it will however only be five months before Councillor Middleton faces his first electoral test in the Local Government Elections scheduled for May 6 this year. And, the fledgling representative highlighted the topics which he feels the electorate will present him with on the hustings.

"It is becoming clearer that the winters are becoming harsher and I think we need to start planning ahead at once to combat the effect it is having on people, especially in rural communities. I will be preparing for that at once. Issues as localised as school bus runs in Newbuildings in that type of weather for example need to be sorted.

"The issue of flooding for example has been as issue for many years already in Newbuildings and also in this recent extreme weather the issue of water provision for people in places like Claudy and surrounding areas, where I believe some are still without water, need to be addressed at once.

"I am not saying that I will be coming in and resolving all these issues at once, but I plan to work hard on them. I spent a couple of years working for the water service and I know how it works. The system needs to be overhauled because as we have seen it has been shambolic," he said.

Mr Middleton also said he has an eye on 2013 and Londonderry's year as the UK City of Culture. As a member of the Orange Order and of the Protestant community he told the Sentinel that the cultural diversity of the city be positively highlighted during 2013.

"Most importantly, I want to ensure an equal share for both communities in Londonderry," he said.

He added: "The County Londonderry Orange Order parade is to be held in the city in 2013 and there is a chance there to truly show the cultural diversity here. The eyes of the UK will be watching and such parades will be key.

"There is also a great opportunity for the Ulster Scots tradition at places like the Sollus Centre at Bready to be showcased especially musicians and the Sollus Highland Dancers."