The Green Party has selected Martin Gregg to contest the Castlereagh Borough Council seat left vacant by the resignation of the DUP's Iris Robinson.
Mr. Gregg, a father of three is active in the local community and is behind the monthly local free publication BT16plus. No stranger to politics, Mr. Gregg stood as an independent candidate in the Strangford constituency in the 2007 Assembly election. He was also one of the original objectors to the controversial housing development at Knock Golf Course.
Speaking after his selection Mr Gregg said: "I am delighted to have been selected to represent the Green Party in the Castlereagh Borough Council election. It has been clear for some time that we need new blood on this Council and recent events reinforce this. I am particularly interested in environmental issues and reform of the planning system; indeed I was one of the original objectors to the development of hundreds of houses on the site of Knock Golf Course. One of the policies that attracted me to the Green Party is that it is the only political party which does not accept corporate donations. The Green Party is about representing the proud people of Castlereagh rather than developers."
Martin was born on the 10th March 1973 in Antrim. He attended Antrim Grammar School and in 2005 graduated from the Open University with a 1st Class BSc Honours Degree which concentrated on technology and the environment. He is married to Elaine and has three sons called Warwick, William and Ethan.
Since 1992 Martin trained and worked as a Communications Engineer for various local companies and became Engineering Manager in late 2007 in the local office of a UK based electronic communications company. He launched the local monthly magazine for the Dundonald area called BT16plus in 2006 which is currently delivered to 4000 households in Dundonald.
Martin has been a member of the Green Party since 2004. He is an active and supportive member of the Dundonald Green Belt Association which is a substantial group of local residents that are concerned with preserving the open green areas around the border of Dundonald. He is also a supporter of the Greenway to Stay Campaign and a member of the Dundonald Primary School PTA.
For further information contact Martin Gregg on 07876 643239 or via email martin@bt16plus.co.uk