Residents in the Dungiven area have expressed serious concerns and opposition to the Boundary Commission’s proposals to split the town and outlying areas into three different constituencies.
The concerns come just days after it emerged that the Commission wants to carve the area into different constituencies for the Westminster elections.
If the proposals get the green light, this would mean Dungiven Main Street would be split down the middle.
The Church of Ireland would be in Mid Ulster while St Patrick’s Catholic Church on the opposite side of the road would be in West Tyrone.
Feeny and Foreglen would also fall under West Tyrone while those living in the Gortnaghey and Burnfoot areas would come under Causeway.
As part of the Commission’s 2018 Review, the number of constituencies in Northern Ireland is being reduced from 18 to 17.
The review process is informed by public consultation and an eight week consultation into the proposals is currently underway.
The proposals have been met with anger by local residents, with one man branding them ‘ridiculous’.
Speaking to the County Derry Post, the man said: “I’ve never heard anything as ridiculous in my whole life. Dungiven isn’t a big town yet they plan to split it right down the middle. That would mean my kids would be going to school in West Tyrone and at the end of the day returning to their home across the road in Mid Ulster. We would be visiting their grandparents a few miles away in the Causeway ward. You just couldn’t make it up.”
Sinn Féin councillor Sean McGlinchey has organised a public meeting to take place to discuss the proposals.
The meeting will be held next Tuesday, February 13 in St Canice’s Hall, Main Street, Dungiven at 7.30pm.
He said: “Dungiven has already suffered inequalities due to regional imbalances but to be left in no man's land between three constituencies will only serve to further these.
“Many people are not aware of the consequences of this and that is why I have decided to call a public meeting. I would urge everyone to turn out to hear what this actually means for the town and what we can do about it.”
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