PPS 14 direction discriminates against the East of the Province
23 February 2008
Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister has raised concerns about the content of the document issued by the Environment Minister which indicates the initial findings of the Executive’s review of policy PPS 14. Mr Allister is particularly concerned by the disparity which will operate between the east and the west of the Province.
In a statement the MEP, who as a lawyer had considerable experience of planning issues, said:-
“I am gravely concerned by aspects of this document, in particular the finding expressed in paragraph 14. The intended decision to permit more flexibility outside Green Belts and CPAs, but retain a more restrictive approach therein, is fundamentally unfair and prejudicial to the east of the Province. Virtually all of Counties Down and Antrim are within Greenbelts or CPAs. These areas have suffered severe restriction for years while the bulk of the west has enjoyed virtually unhindered development. It is within the east that farming and non-farming rural dwellers have suffered the most. To now find that the Executive is minded to continue this disparity of treatment, while opening up opportunities for group development, and other relaxations, elsewhere, strikes me as unfair.
I must also make the point that herein is disadvantage to the Protestant/Unionist community, which predominates in the east. The upshot of the intended approach will be to aid the further "greening of the west". It seems to me there are obvious equality issues here. I note the lip service paid in paragraph 8 to "equality", but when different parts of the Province are treated so unequally, with parallel ramifications for different parts of the community, then it’s hard to see how equality has been respected.
My own view is that a common policy should extend throughout Northern Ireland. That policy should be restrictive, but with specific relaxations for categories including farming and established rural dwellers, aimed at permitting development for sons and daughters where suitable sites exist. I regret the Executive has not shown favour to such an approach. It seemed to me that such a “kinship exemption” was capable of bringing equity right across the Province.
Whereas relaxation on farm viability and on the retirement dwellings policy are welcome, they of themselves do not do enough to deal with the gross inequality of approach which afflicts the east of the Province.
In regard to Greenbelt and CPA policy, it is not clear to me from the document if side by side with PPS14 new Area Plans will be able to roll out new Greenbelts or CPAs. Thus can what is being given in one hand by PPS14, be taken away in the other through new designations of Greenbelts or CPAs in new Area Plans?
In order to explore these issues further I have asked for a meeting with the Environment Minister, Mrs Foster.”
