The Ulster Unionist candidate for the forthcoming Enniskillen by-election, Basil Johnston, has stood over claims by is Party that, under the proposed Fermanagh/Omagh 'super Council' format, as proposed by his rival, Arlene Foster, wearing her previous Minister's hat, ratepayers here will be paying more.

Mr Johnston was responding to a number of comments made by DUP representatives regarding the UUP's assertion that the ratepayers of Fermanagh will have to shoulder significant debts from Omagh District Council following the planned amalgamation of the two authorities.

"With polling day for the Enniskillen by-election just around the corner, I thought it would be useful to explain in more detail the financial situation of Fermanagh and Omagh District Councils to ratepayers and voters, and allow them to draw their own conclusions regarding the proposed new Council configuration and its financial implications as I feel that some parties have been a little disingenuous on the matter."

He went on: "Looking at the most recent publicly available accounts for both authorities makes clear that the proposed amalgamation is not based on a partnership of financial equals. As of 31st March 2007, Omagh District Council recorded fixed assets in the region of £35.5 million, with various borrowings amounting to almost £9.8 million, whereas Fermanagh District Council recorded some £53.4 million of assets and less than £3.4 million of borrowings."

"Borrowing to finance projects is part and parcel of running any large organisation, and the same can be said for local government. However, I do feel that, in this case, the ratepayers need to be informed honestly about the proposed amalgamation and the likely impact on household rates bills. I don't care how other Parties try to dress the facts up, the truth is that ratepayers in the proposed new authority will pay the same rates irrespective of whether they live in Enniskillen or Omagh."

"At present, Fermanagh ratepayers enjoy the second lowest domestic rates in Northern Ireland, while ratepayers in Omagh District Council pay the fifth highest. This would suggest to me that Fermanagh ratepayers stand to lose out in the new Council arrangements.

"In this time of tighter budgets and rising bills for the household essentials, I feel that clarification on this issue matters to the public, irrespective of what others might say the facts on this issue speak for themselves."