Archive for April, 2009
Down District Green Party activists have raised the problem of illegal dumping at Corrigs Avenue in Newcastle, and have asked the Council to take action to stop those responsible.
Green Party Cllr Cadogan Enright, and Newcastle Local Co-ordinator John Hardy, met with residents in Corrigs Avenue in the Dundrum area of Newcastle, to see for themselves the large amount of household waste and furniture which has been dumped to the rear of their homes.
Cllr Enright said, “We were requested by local residents to visit the estate and see the dumping for ourselves. It is clear that people have been using the waste-ground to the rear of these homes as a dump for quite some time. While there, we saw suites of furniture, mattresses, children’s toys and bags of household waste. There is no excuse for this activity when Down Council offers facilities for waste collection and also for processing of recyclables including furniture at their Bann Road site in Castlewellan.”
The property being used for dumping is to the rear of Corrigs Avenue and borders a laneway used to access a sewerage pumping station operated by Northern Ireland Water. Although the property is privately owned, the Green Party have contacted the Council to request that they remove all the material and take measures to catch and prosecute those responsible.
Local Green Party activist, John Hardy, said, “Local residents have complained of seeing rats amongst the waste, so this is clearly a health risk. We have contacted the Council and they have visited the site to see for themselves the extent of the problem. We will also be calling on Northern Ireland Water to erect proper fencing along the boundary of its property to prevent people from using the lane as a means of access for dumping. “
Cllr Enright concluded, “With the facilities available to the public for the disposal of waste, there is no excuse for this dumping to occur, especially when it threatens the health of the residents, and the message has to go out from the Council that this will not be tolerated. I urge anyone who witnesses illegal dumping to the Environmental Health department at Down District Council on 02844610823 and they will prosecute if witnesses are willing to come forward”.
Press Cuttings: Green Party hits out at Newcastle Dumping
DOWN District Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright has confirmed with Council Officials that no Mosquito Alarms have been installed in any council property in Killyleagh, nor are there any plans to do so.
The Mosquito Alarm is a device, which emits a high-pitched noise in an attempt to ward of anti social youths.
Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “These alarms will inevitably affect pregnant mothers and the parents of toddlers leaving the council open to legal action.”
Cllr Enright has pointed out that some other local councillors have been campaigning for Mosquito Alarms to counteract the small minority of teenagers in Killyleagh engaged in anti social activities.
Cllr Enright said, “In my own experience my neighbours and I have been subject to anti social behaviour but we have worked this out with close involvement with community police officers.”
“The vast majority of young people in the Down District area are a credit to themselves and their families and we have no right to drive them off the streets. The irrational fear of young people is called ‘Ephebiphobia’ and I condemn any attempt to demonise any minority. This is a human rights issue and I have contacted the Human Rights Commissioner Monica McWilliams on this issue.”
“These Mosquito alarms have been banned in Scotland and councils in England are now attempting to ban them as well. Kent County Council already banned them last year and Devon will soon ban them as well. The Minister for Justice in the Republic of Ireland has referred these devices to the Gardai under Section 2 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 with a view to prosecution for assault.”
“These facts should be sufficient for us to realise that other methods need to be implemented in order to address anti-social behaviour without discriminating or assaulting every young person and child in the area.”
Cllr Enright also pointed out, “Killyleagh is in a unique position in Northern Ireland by having six bat species. I am concerned that the Mosquito Alarms will be very disruptive to bats using high frequency sounds to navigate and find their insect prey. These alarms will not only have detrimental effects to children but also to the important wildlife in Killyleagh.”
Press Cuttings: Killyleagh backlash against teen deterrent
DOWN Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright welcomed news that Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has made a trip to Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park with a view to creating a similar model in the Mourne Mountains.
Downpatrick Cllr Cadogan Enright said “I received overwhelming support at the Green Party meeting in Downpatrick this week to renew our campaign for the new National Park to be recognised by UNESCO as a cross-boarder Geopark with all the economic benefits that go with international recognition”.
Newcastle Green Party co-ordinator John Hardy briefed the meeting on how the Marble Arch caves system in counties Fermanagh and Cavan has been recognised as a cross-border geopark by UNESCO.
Cllr Enright said, “This is a great example of how cross border eco-tourism initiatives can work and help promote local economies and tourism. This is a fine example of how a similar initiative could benefit Co. Down and Co. Louth with a Mourne National Park.
“Dublin Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley has previously written to the South Down National Park working committee expressing an interest is resolving any difficulties in having a cross-boarder approach with the Cooley’s in Co. Louth. Now In N.I., Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has spoken about his visit to the Cairngorms National Park and stated that there is no evidence of restrictions on farmers than there are on farmers elsewhere. This is to be welcomed also”, reported Cllr Enright.
Cllr Enright said: “A new National Park will create jobs, improve infrastructure including the A25 route, upgrade public transport and offers one of the most exciting opportunities for the area’s economic future. I call on other political representatives to show courage and come in behind the National Park project.”
The Green Party has been a consistent supporter of the National Park, which according to a 2006 Countryside Consultancy report has the potential of creating in excess of 800 -1,200 jobs. This has been in the face of a well-organised campaign against the National Park that has left the other political parties divided or sitting on the fence in the South Down area on this key issue. 
Green Party activists at the meeting were greatly amused at the suggestion that they might be supporting Minister Sammy Wilson on any subject given his views on climate change and opposition to protecting the environment in many areas, but agreed that they had to be fair when on rare occasions the Minister actually appeared to be doing his job as Environment Minister.
According to the Potential Impacts of National Park Designation in Northern Ireland report, published in May 2006, upwards of 1.43 million visitors per year could be attracted to the proposed National Park and 2.53 million to the wider sphere of influence. This, according to the report equates to £30-43 million in spending by visitors each year.
Press Cuttings: Green Party renews campaign for Mourne National Park, Green Party urges National Park move
DOWN District Green Party Councillor Cadogan Enright voiced alarm at the sudden policy change by the SDLP councillors in Down District Council at last weeks council meeting at the Council offices on the Strangford Road. The SDLP out-voted the other parties on the Down District Council and rejected the need to have a separate Sustainable Development Committee in Down District Council – which had previously been SDLP Policy.
Cllr Enright said, “The Green Party has been happy in the past, to support the SDLP in creating a sustainable development committee on the council covering the important aspects of council policy such as sustainable development of tourism, energy infrastructure development, improvement of biodiversity and how this can benefit the local economy and our commitments under Local Agenda 21 arising under the Rio Convention in 1992.”
Cadogan Enright said, “This sudden policy change was also rightly opposed by representatives of the DUP and Sinn Fein and although UUP Councillors were not present, I am aware that some UUP Councillors would also oppose this development.”
Cllr Enright said, “The lame excuse given was that the senior management in the council (SMT) would be to busy with the reorganisation of local government to resource a Sustainable Development Committee in the Down District area.”
“I will be calling on all Councillors to review the decision not to have a separate Sustainable Development Committee in our run-up to the merger with Newry and Mourne Council, as this will delay Down District Council in seriously addressing the vital interests of people in this district and allow Down District to play its part in the global effort to pass this piece of our planet on to our children in a sustainable manner. If we wait now it will be at the earliest 2011 before a sustainable development committee is set up.” concluded Cllr Enright.
Press Cuttings: Enright will seek united opposition to overturn SDLP policy change
Steven Agnew, Green Euro Candidate, visits Downpatrick.
Downpatrick Cllr Cadogan Enright and retired Cllr Bill Corry of the Green Party hosted the launch of Green EU Candidate Steven Agnew’s Campaign in South Down.
Meeting in the Saint Patrick Centre Steven Agnew listened to the concerns of many local environmentalist groups, community activists and human rights campaigners.
Downpatrick Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Keith Bradford said, “I was impressed with this intelligent and committed young man and things bode well for Northern Ireland when we have people like this coming forward as potential political representatives.”
Jim Marks, a local farmer and environmentalist campaigner, from Killileagh shared many of the concerns in the Lecale area with Steven Agnew including multiple instances of river pollution, unsustainable development and flagrant disregard for EU Directives in the area of health and the environment that are rampant in Northern Ireland.
Cllr Cadogan Enright pointed out how Down District Council had still failed to implement a Biodiversity Action Plan and is only now beginning to look at implementing its responsibilities under Local Agenda 21 – That is how Down District can be made sustainable for our children and grand children.
Cllr Enright said, “When you look at Britain, Germany and even central and south America and see that local authorities in all these regions are planning for the future in terms of biodiversity and climate change. Its embarrassing that we here in Down District Council have failed to deliver a local plan despite the best efforts of a number of councillors from different parties to bring this forward.”
Bill Corry praised Steven Agnew and held him up as the sort of young person we need in politics to change priorities for the future and create a better life and future for everyone in Down District and Co. Down.
The Green Party EU Candidate Steven Agnew thanked everyone for showing up to express their concerns and was continuing to amend his election platform to reflect these and other matters brought to his attention by similar meetings in Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Hilltown and Warrenpoint.
Press Cuttings: Councillor criticises the lack of local action plan
