At present Councillors are mere consultees in the planning process but come April 2015 they will be the primary decision makers. This means councillors will be responsible for deciding whether to pass or fail some of the biggest and most controversial proposals being brought forward. In recent times the Newry Council chamber has been the scene ofo heated debate (Carnbane Way) and controversy (mobile phone mast policy) as councillors attempted to define the local authority’s position on applications. Now with members expected to make decisions the level of pressure and responsibility will increase substantially. According to Director of Local Planning Mary McIntyre, “90 percent of decisions will be taken in the Council Chamber. It is daunting for councillors to take on these powers. Come April councillors will be taking difficult decisions on contentious applications which will be challenged and scrutinised sometimes through the courts. Carnbane would have been a Council decision had it come up next year instead of this year. Greencastle (ferry) and the Narrow Water Bridge were relevant to Craigavon not the Minister (as such they would be the responsibility of Council post April 2015). Only matters of National Significance (eg Maze/ Fracking) will be taken at a Ministerial Level.” Interestingly Ms McIntyre said that at least one major project planned for the new Council region – a massive wind farm off the south Down coast will not require planning permission. “It’s off shore so it requires a plethora of marine licensing and other consents but not planning permission,” she said. “The only parts of it that require planning permission will be on the on shore elements – cables, generators, where it comes on shore.”
17th September 2014
Newry Reporter
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