Minister refuses Ringsend dump enquiry
Thursday, 26 June 2008
RINGSEND residents have reacted angrily to the Environment Minister's refusal to hold a public enquiry into a proposed site.
Backed by Coleraine Borough Council, local Assemblyman John Dallat wrote to newly installed DUP minister, Sammy Wilson calling for the suspension of planning approval that would re-open the site at Craigmore Road.
The new application for a waste transfer and materials recovery facility was scheduled for consideration by Coleraine Borough Council last Tuesday but the decision was deferred pending Mr Dallat's request for a Ministerial Inquiry.
Last week the council heard a court jailed the previous owner but no instructions were issued for the recovery of illegal waste and a licence was issued by the Environmental Heritage Service to the new owner.
The SDLP Assemblyman has since lodged parliamentary questions dealing with "serious aspects" involving the site.
In his response to Mr Dallat's request the minister stated: "The Department discharges its regulatory functions through planning and waste licensing regulations in this instance. These existing powers are designed to address and consider all matters relevant to this particular site. Therefore I do not intend to initiate separate investigations."
He goes on to say local councils are part of the planning consultation process. The minister added: "It is important that these planning applications are brought before Coleraine Borough Council and the views of the Council established. I do not intend to seek to halt that process."
Dangerous
Councillor Dallat has vowed to find out why the EHS decided to allow "huge quantities of toxic and dangerous waste" to remain on a site.
He said: "The Minister has spurned an honest attempt to have the matter thoroughly investigated and that will only raise temperatures higher among people who are at breaking point over this and other proposed sites in an area of outstanding natural beauty."
