Jim Wells MLA
One of Stormont’s more experienced MLAs, Jim Wells’ political career has followed the changing shape of South Down over the years. From 1982 to 1986, he sat in the Northern Ireland Assembly and has also represented the current constituency since 1998. He has also served on three local authorities – Lisburn Borough Council (1981-1985); Banbridge District Council (1985- 1988); and Down District Council (since 2001).
A qualified town planner and keen environmentalist, he has also worked for the National Trust and RSPB. Jim has been nominated as Chair of the Health, Social Services and Public Safety Committee and has just stepped down as the DUP’s Regional Development Spokesman.
How did you get started in politics?
I joined the DUP in 1975 as a student and subsequently became the Chairman of the Queen’s University branch of the party. I was still at Queen’s when I was elected to my local council in 1981 and 18 months later I became an Assemblyman for South Down at Stormont.
What was known as the ‘Prior Assembly’ collapsed in June 1986 but in 1998 I returned to Stormont (again representing South Down) and was re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
Where did your interest in the environment come from?
I’m not really sure as it does not run in the family. As a 10 year old I was persuaded to join the RSPB at a game fair and I never looked back. I subsequently worked for a variety of environmental charities including the National Trust and the RSPB.
As man’s impact on the global environment has become much more destructive my interest in green issues has grown considerably.
There is no doubt that climate change is largely caused by human activity and unless urgent action is taken to reduce carbon emissions the future for our planet looks extremely bleak. Northern Ireland must play its part in tackling this crucial issue.
In brief, what is the DUP’s regional development policy?
The DUP is committed to the transformation of Northern Ireland’s water and transport infrastructure.
Much of what has been achieved in recent years was initiated by Peter Robinson and Gregory Campbell when they held the post of Minister for Regional Development during the period 1999 to 2002. They introduced free public transport for senior citizens, new rolling stock for our railways and major investment to bring our water and sewage system up to 21st century standards.
The party supports the upgrading of our major trunk roads and the development of a new rapid transit system serving Belfast.
An area of concern to the DUP is the lack of planned maintenance of our minor roads. The Roads Service recently confirmed that a rural road will only be properly upgraded once every 113 years.
This lack of proper maintenance is storing up huge problems for the future as eventually many roads will deteriorate to a point where major structural repairs will be required – a much more expensive option than proper planned maintenance.
In your career to date, what has been the main highlight?
Topping the poll in the 2003 Assembly election was certainly the highlight of my political career. South Down is a strongly nationalist constituency and this was the first time that any unionist had outpolled all the other candidates to win an Assembly seat.
In 1998 I had been elected on the eleventh count after a 13-hour nail biting wait so five years later it was really encouraging to be returned and home for tea at six o’clock.
The other main highlight has to be the fight to save the B/E Aerospace factory in Kilkeel in October 2001.
The tragic events of September 11th had plunged the aviation industry into crisis and the Kilkeel factory was under threat of closure. I was heavily involved in the meetings which led to a rescue package which secured the 600 jobs.
Uniquely this American-based company agreed to transfer production of aircraft seats from the States to Northern Ireland. Up until that point other companies had been transferring jobs out of the province and I was relieved that the Kilkeel staff had convinced the parent company to move in the opposite direction.
The aircraft factory is absolutely vital to the economy not only of Kilkeel but all of South Down and, despite a further downturn in the aviation industry, it still employs 600 full-time staff.
How do you relax outside work?
This is an easy one. I love to get my walking boots on and get into the Mournes or along the North Coast with a pair of binoculars.
I am very interested in nature conservation and wildlife, and I have just started my thirty-third year of a study of the status of the peregrine falcon in Northern Ireland.
This takes me to some fantastic parts of the province such as Rathlin Island and Fermanagh. I have also developed an appreciation for one of our undiscovered scenic gems – north Londonderry.
The Binevenagh area near Limavady has to be one of the most attractive parts of the UK and I really look forward to my visits to this beautiful part of the world.
My second great passion is watching cricket. There is only one job which would convince me to give up my political career and that is Jonathan Agnew’s bag carrier.
Can there be a more perfect career than being the BBC’s Cricket Correspondent?
Being paid to travel to sun-kissed locations such as the West Indies and Australia to watch cricket all day has to be the most wonderful job on earth.
Finally, I am a fully paid up member of the ‘green and white army’. I was at Windsor Park the day that George Best kicked the ball out of Gordon Banks’ hand and since then I have enjoyed the highs (and occasional lows) of the Northern Ireland football team.
It would be wonderful if we qualified for South Africa, though if this happens I and the other avid ‘Norn Ireland’ supporters at Stormont will have to be very nice to our Chief Whips as we will all be looking to get permission to head south for the finals.
