Minister Poots to visit Craigahulliar?
THERE could be some hope for the residents of Craigahulliar who are opposed to plans to build a concrete batching plant in the area.
Last Monday, Minister for the Environment, Edwin Poots, met with councillors and the MP for the area, Gregory Campbell, to discuss the planning application.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Campbell told The Times: "I approached the Minister for a meeting following a site visit which I and other public representatives had attended earlier.
"The Minister agreed to hold such a meeting.
"The case against the planning proposal was again forcibly made by the delegation and it included further elaboration on site matters that will hopefully help the case, as the Planners now consider the matter as it reaches the final stages of the process.
"The most senior Planning Officer dealing with this type of application and the Minister have agreed that they will try and visit the site over the course of the next few weeks.
"This is a considerable advance on the previous position."
Mr Campbell added: "While no one should get overly optimistic or automatically presume that the final outcome is a refusal, at least it now appears that all the relevant issues are being considered as a result of the comprehensive lobbying done by both local residents and their representatives."
Independent councillor Christine Alexander, who has a close relationship with the residents of Craigahulliar added: " "Altogether, it was a much more positive meeting. I'm almost afraid to be optomistic, but I do now see a glimmer of hope.
"I believe Minister Poots had been poorly advised on the application.
"He was still of the belief that the proposal was to be located within the redundant quarry, which we all know is now Councils landfill site. He did appear to be surprised when I told him the site was on a portion of ground beside the quarry.
"This has been a long difficult and very frustrating battle. It has been costly to Council, not only in terms of finance, but in Officer and councillors time.
"Most importantly it has had the most damaging impact on residents of Craigahulliar, who are almost holding their breath in anticipation of a refusal. On saying all that, if we get a positive result it will all have been worth it," said councillor Alexander.
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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