Following the assumption of local government responsibilities by the new Derry City and Strabane District Council, a Strabane based councillor says the town will not be swallowed up by Derry City.
During the transition period, Cllr Patsy Kelly co-chaired a committee overseeing how the services offered by the two council would be converged.
He says a priority for him continues to be ensuring that Strabane does not lose its identity, and receives the level of service and investment to which it is entitled.
Cllr Kelly acknowledges that the SDLP’s preference would have been to remain in Tyrone and link with Omagh District Council.
However, he says now that the new council is in place, his focus will be on representing Strabane:
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