MLA David Ford has welcomed the decision by Planning Service to withdraw two contentious planning applications from the meeting with Antrim Council. They concerned plans for a waste facility and a landfill at Parkgate Quarry.

David Ford said: "Working alongside people in the area, Cllr Alan Lawther, Danny Kinahan MLA and I have consistently opposed the plans for this waste facility. Northern Ireland needs to recycle more waste. There is clearly a lot of building waste that originates in Belfast. But it is completely illogical to cart large quantities of waste - up to 2,000 tons a day - nearly 20 miles out of the city, to then send up to 80% of it back to the city or the docks.

"There are a number of issues that need to be addressed by the Planning Service. Over twenty years ago, a similar facility was refused permission because there was uncertainty about its effects on ground water. Local farmers, and those who have their own wells, are not satisfied that a proper survey has yet been done.

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"Road safety is a crucial issue. There are real fears about allowing so many heavy lorries on the narrow Connor Road. Initially, Roads Service insisted on widening the road, but now seems satisfied with a few passing bays, even though one is on the steepest part of the brae, close to a blind bend. "For small local planning applications, the applicant is required to provide detailed, accurate plans showing sight lines at the entrance to any development. The quality of the drawings provided for this major project was far short of what many individual householders have had to provide for modest domestic schemes. It is also unclear whether the developers control the land required for sight lines, passing bays and sound screening 'bunds'.

"Last week, I visited Millennium House in Belfast, to read any additions to the planning file. There were no significant reports showing how the issues raised last year had been addressed. I took this information to a recent public meeting in Parkgate, which expressed continuing unanimous opposition to the proposals.

"Following that meeting, in consultation with Cllr Alan Lawther, I wrote to Alex Attwood MLA, Minister of the Environment, and asked him to withdraw these plans from the Council list, and to ensure that the legitimate questions from people in the area and their representatives were answered. I am grateful that, following my intervention, the Planning Service has again withdrawn the plans."

(CD/GK)