Tyrone says NO to Rural Planning Dictate-Mc Elduff
West Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Barry Mc Elduff says that the strength of opposition
to Rural Planning guidelines (PPS 14) was clearly evident after 200 people
turned up at a public meeting organised by the party at the Dún Uladh
Centre in Omagh last night.
The meeting, the latest in a series
of such public meetings Sinn Féin is holding throughout the north was
chaired by Barry Mc Elduff and addressed by local MP Pat Doherty, the Chair
of Omagh District Council Mickey Mc Anespie, Sinn Féin Councillor Seán
Clarke, and Damien Mc Gennity, Co-ordinator of the Working Group set up by
Sinn Féin to fight the proposals.
Following the meeting
Barry Mc Elduff said,
"At themeeting, speaker after speaker
outlined the disastrous consequences for every aspect of rural life if the
DRD gets its way and imposes these punitive Rural Planning Guidelines in
their current format.
"After listening to the debate and the
disastrous implications for the cohesion of rural communities one man said
to me that these Rural Planning Guidelines are akin to rural genocide and I
would have to agree.
"Therefore the "Competency" of those within
the Department of Regional Development (DRD) who have imposed this dictate
even before a consultation has taken place must be called into question. It
is clear that PPS 14 is a solo run by the DRD given that it contradicts not
only EU policy but also the policy direction of the Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Environment.
"Lord
Rooker's replacement David Cairns has now responsibility for DRD, DARD and
the DoE so when Sinn Féin's five MP's meet with him shortly they will be challenging
him to withdraw these disastrous solo run proposals and in a joined up
approach between these departments bring forward proposals which can strike
the right balance between environmental sustainability and protection of the
way of life.
"Given that from March 16th of this year it was
decreed by Lord Rooker that PPS 14 would supersede all previous Rural
Planning Guidelines, there will be much cynicism about the genuineness of
DRD's subsequent consultation process.
"However, already over
2,000 people have made submissions to the consultation and last night we
appealed for every sector of the rural community and every individual who
feels strongly about the issue to make their views known to the DRD before
the 9th June.
"As well as public meetings throughout the north,
Sinn Féin has met the Ulster Council of the GAA, the Rural Development
Council to name but a few and our own consultations will help in the
formulation of our own submission to the Consultation Process as well as
help shape our alternative proposals.
"From last night's meeting
it is clear that there is a determination to face down these draconian
proposals and along with the community we will be pulling out every stop
between now and the 9th June to make sure this is the case. ENDS