Mr Dickson formally stood down last week, Tuesday June 26, continuing the Alliance Party’s commitment to ending double jobbing.
Councillor Williams is a ‘Carrick man’ who was brought up in Sunnylands, attending Sunnylands Primary School and later Carrickfergus Technical College. He left home when he was 17 and had a very successful career in the RAF, reaching the rank of Wing Commander.
He returned to Carrickfergus in 2003 having retired from the RAF and took up an appointment as the Head of Energy Saving Trust in Northern Ireland, a post he held for seven years. During that time he was a champion for domestic energy efficiency and member of the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, a group he chaired until recently when he resigned due to his appointment as an elected representative.
Councillor Noel Williams is a strong supporter of ex-service men and women and is well known for his work in the Borough as the RAF Association’s Wings Appeal Organiser, raising over £140,000 in the last six years. He also organises the annual Battle of Britain Parade and Church Service each September.
He attended his first meeting of Carrickfergus Council as an elected representative on Wednesday June 27, where he expressed his surprise at the lack of equality displayed by the council when appointing the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs.
Councillor Noel Williams said: “I am thrilled to be representing the pro-active and effective Alliance team on Carrickfergus Borough Council and look forward to working with colleagues Alderman Sean Neeson and Councillor Isobel Day. It is my aim to continue the tremendous work of my predecessor, Stewart Dickson MLA. It is an exciting time to be part of the Alliance Party, which is providing courageous leadership and an alternative to the tribal politics that keeps us stuck in the past.
“I will also be seeking answers from the Equality Commission after the carve-up of Council offices at the AGM last week. I will be looking to them to examine the Councils’ Public Equality Scheme and if it has been breached. The people of Carrickfergus deserve a governing body representative of the whole town, something that the DUP and UUP seem to have forgotten.”
“I will be working hard for all of the constituents and will be striving to ensure: that the public realm work currently going on in the town centre is completed on time and to the highest possible standard, and done so safely; we get a Health Centre that is fit for purpose; that the widening of the A2 causes as little disruption as possible and that suitable Park & Ride facilities are provided adjacent to Larne Line stations. In all of this I will of course continue to offer support to constituents on issues that are troubling them as well as doing regular Resident’s Surveys to find out what is important to them.