Archive for the 'Ballyhornan' Category

DUMPING INTO LOUGH FEEDING ST. PATRICKS WELL

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on February 11, 2009
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Ballyhornan, Brian Wilson, Cadogan Enright, Downpatrick, Health / Local Services and Littering/Vandalism/Crime
. 0 Comments

Cllr Enright investigating the dump which has filled in part of the lough leading to Struell Wells.

Down Green Party councillor Cadogan has expressed great concern at what appears to be a major case of illegal dumping which he has reported to Down District Environment Officers and the NIEA.

Councillor Enright said that “This dump appears to involve the entire contents of the old demolished hospital buildings, Old Midwifery Unit and the stores that were knocked down to build the new hospital. It seems to have the rubble from the old Sports Pavilion from the Downshire hospital site too”.

“Any doubts I might have had that I was actually looking at the remains of the hospital vanished when I visited the site with an ex-member of staff who was able to identify parts of the building and hospital asset tags on some of the remains of the hospital on site”, said Cllr Enright”.

Cllr Enright and Green Party MLA Brian Wilson with Hositpal Lockers and asset tags.Cllr Enright said “I have alerted Green MLA Brian Wilson who is putting down questions in Stormont on this issue. We have independent confirmation of the source of the dumping, as some of the furniture has asset tags from the hospital site which I have photographed on my council-issued camera. Green Party MLA Brian Wilson and I are willing to give evidence on this.

Green MLA Brian Wilson said “One must assume that the contract for the demolition of the old hospital was correctly issued by the Health Board, and that they would have satisfied themselves that the old hospital and its contents were properly disposed of. We have written to the Health Board and the Minister to see what went wrong. Questions need to be asked.” Close-up of the asset tags linking the dump to the old hospital.

Cllr Enright said, “We can find no trace of planning permission for a dump to be operated on this site. Nor any trace of an infill licence. Brian Wilson and I have reported this and have been issued with an incident reference number 6351 and are seeking and update from the NIEA on this issue”.

Photos of the Dump being created can be viewed at the following links:
Photo 1, Photo 2 and Photo 3.

Green MLA Brian Wilson said “There are also health issues involved, as the Lough that has been partly filled in by this dumping is the same Lough that feeds the well used by Pilgrims at Struell Wells which is variously known as St Bridget’s Well or St Patrick’s well. Our Downpatrick Green Party councillor Cadogan Enright has published a map on his website showing how this Lough feeds the Holy Well.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MAP

Cllr Enright also pointed out that, “In 2006 the Environment Agency was asked to investigate the water flow problems at Struell wells when baths at the site started drying up. I wouldn’t be surprised if this dump we have discovered has played a part in the problem as it has filled in part of the Lough flowing into the historic site.” The Holy Wells at Struell which mysteriously dried up recently.

“For generations, the wells at Struell have been a great attraction for people seeking to benefit from the believed healing qualities of its waters. The importance of this site is profound which is clear in the history of pilgrimage to the wells and bathing house and any threat to the sites significance needs to be addressed swiftly.”

“This well is used by thousands of pilgrims and is a major tourist attraction in the South Down and Lecale areas. This incident once again points up the need for an independent environmental agency charged with protecting our natural environment and the long-term sustainability of our economy” concluded Councillor Enright. 

BACKGROUND NOTES

1. The site can be found by CLICKING HERE. 

2. CLICK HERE to see revevant map from the planning service – see lough at bottom centre.

3. The NIEA incident reference for this case is 6351.

4. The Wells have always been a popular place of pilgrimage for people wanting to benefit from their healing qualities – reputed to date back from the time when Ireland’s patron saint visited.

5. The historic site is managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Press Cuttings: Green Party Anger over Dumped Hospital Waste, Illegal dump damaging wells claims councillor

GREENS CAMPAIGN FOR THE LIVES OF YOUNG MIGRANT WORKERS

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on August 1, 2008
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Ballyhornan, Bill Corry, Cadogan Enright, Employment/Economics, Strangford Lough and town, Supporting Minorities / Human Rights and Wildlife/Trees/Nature
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Photograph shows Green Cllr Cadogan Enright with Green Party Official Bill Corry with Guns Island in the background.

The Green Party has been campaigning for the safety and lives of young migrant workers along the coastline from the abuse and exploitation of gang masters.

It was recently highlighted that up to sixteen young migrant workers were camped out on Guns Island whilst they laboured everyday for two weeks collecting winkles and cockles of the coastal rocks.

GREEN Cllr Cadogan Enright said, “The safety of the migrant workers is our primary concern. We have witnessed how up to four workers are making their way across a dangerous stretch of water from Guns Island to the shore in a small dingy with no life jackets. This is not safe given the half Kilometre of choppy water between Guns Island and the mainland – especially when laden down with heavy bags of shell fish. The last thing we wish to see is another tragic loss of life along our coast.”

“We have sent photographs to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority showing them the danger to the young workers. We managed to record the license plate number of the people carrier used to transport the workers which we also submitted to the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. We have also been in contact with the Health and Safety Executive who in turn contacted the Coastguard.”

Cllr Enright pointed out that,” The Green Party in Down District has had a long standing campaign to protect inter-tidal species such as cockles and periwinkles from over exploitation. There has been a sharp decrease in the number of cockles and winkles along the coast which shows the effects of over harvesting. We cannot allow people to take unsustainable quantities of shellfish from the fragile ecosystem, along the coast, and I have been seeking for proper enforcement and regulations on this issue.”

“These creatures form an important part of the food chain for wildlife in coastal areas and the periwinkles are not only being harvested, but the stones under which they grow are being left overturned which results in immature shell fish drying out and dying. This interrupts the natural life-cycle of these sea creatures and diminishes the chances of the population recovering,” said Cllr Enright.

Cllr Enright said, “I have raised this issue with the Strangford Lough Management Advisory Committee and the Green Party have made a submission to the new Wildlife Order on this subject.”

The Green Party believes that local families should be able to collect these sorts of inter-tidal species for personal use and also local licensed fishermen, so long as it is carried out in a sustainable way.

“We oppose the strip mining of beaches especially in such cases as Guns Island were we see disregard for the sustainability and biodiversity of our sensitive Lough and the complete lack of concern for young peoples lives,” concluded Cllr Enright.

Press Cuttings: Green Party seeks protection for young migrant coastal workers, Councillor calls for protection of migrants, Concern over Gunn's Island winkle pickers

Concerns over shellfish harvest

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on July 21, 2008
in 6. PRESS CUTTINGS, Ballyhornan, Bill Corry and Wildlife/Trees/Nature
. 0 Comments

billperiwinkles, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.

GREEN PARTY REJECTS PLAN FOR ARDGLASS SEWERAGE PIPELINE

Published
by
Cadogan Enright
on February 2, 2008
in 1. GREEN PRESS RELEASES / LATEST NEWS, Ardglass, Ballyhornan, Cadogan Enright, Chapeltown, Council and Pollution
. 0 Comments

Cadogan – north, originally uploaded by downgreenparty.

Down Cllr Cadogan Enright has rejected plans for a pipeline to discharge sewerage into the sea at Ardglass as ‘mindless pollution’. The Green Party Councillor was responding to a request from EHS for comments on the planned discharge, which came before the Council recently.

At a recent meeting of the Council, Cllr Enright opposed any discharge location given the imminent construction of a Waste Water Treatment Works for the Ardglass area. “It seems crazy to build another pipeline to discharge raw sewerage into the Irish Sea when a proper treatment works is to be built in Ardglass next year and which will service through Chapeltown”, he said.

“The Ardglass area has suffered as a result of not having adequate sewerage treatment facilities, with water pollution resulting from the effluent being pumped into the sea at Ardtole. Now that we are having a new Waste Water Treatment Works constructed there is absolutely no need to continue with this mindless pollution.”

The proposed discharge point, adjacent to the Strangford Road in Chapeltown, is close to Saint Patrick’s Well, a centre of pilgrimage and is also on the route of tourist walks, including the Ulster Way and the Lecale Way.

“Furthermore”, continued Cllr Enright, “this site is within an Area of Special Scientific Interest and marine reserve. As such, any discharge of this nature should be banned. The sewerage would also have a detrimental effect on the local crab fishermen who would lose valuable stock if this pollution was ongoing.”

Cllr Enright raised the issue at the meeting of the Council and was supported in his objections by his fellow Councillors. This resulted in the application being deferred by Council.

“It is vital that we stop pumping raw sewerage into our waterways and seas, and Ballyhornan to the North of here and Ardglass to the South of here have suffered with this problem for years. The Council must take a stand against any such plans as a matter of principle to protect the health of all of the people living in Down District.”

Press Cuttings: sewage pipeline ardglass, Sewage Ardglass