Allister Welcomes Lignite Victory
06 October 2011
Speaking after making representations to the Public Hearing in Ballymoney Town Hall (4th Oct), when it dealt with the lignite issue in the PAC’s consideration of the draft Northern Area Plan, TUV Leader Jim Allister welcomed the concession by the Planning Service to accede to the demand to withdraw policy ‘MIN1’.‘MIN 1’ was the policy in the draft plan designed to prohibit development within the Lignite Resource Area, which stretches from Ballymoney to Stranocum. Whereas, lately there had been an offer by the DOE Minister to supersede it for 2 years by giving preference to PPS 21, Mr Allister argued at the hearing that this was not enough and that the policy, which the department did not try to justify, should be withdrawn entirely. The representative of Ballymoney Council agreed. After an adjournment to allow the departmental representative to take instructions the resumed hearing was told the Department agreed and ‘MIN 1’ was formerly withdrawn.
Commenting, Jim Allister said, “This is a significant victory for the campaigners on the lignite issue. ‘MIN 1’ would have been a dire blight on development throughout the affected area, which has been sterilised too long already. I commend the Department for the common sense decision to withdraw it. Now, unless actual prejudice to the lignite resource can be demonstrated, the same rules as apply everywhere else under PPS 21 should see opportunities for rural development in this area.”
