Council favours a national park

Council favours a national park

27 June 2012

DOWN Council wants to see the Mournes designated a national park.

The move comes after Stormont Environment Minister Alex Attwood last week announced the Mournes is one of three areas being considered for national park status.

The others are the Causeway Coast

and Antrim Glens and the Fermanagh Lakelands.

Newcastle councillor Carmel O’Boyle said while Down Council has previously endorsed support for the creation of a national park in the Mournes, it must reaffirm its commitment in the wake of Mr. Attwood’s recent announcement.

At the local authority’s monthly meeting on Monday night, councillor O’Boyle said politicians need to urge the Environment Minister to choose the Mournes as a new national park.

“We need to initiate a campaign setting out our support and we need to draw up a plan of action so we can get that campaign underway,” she continued.

“We need to nail our colours to the mast on this important issue and let the Minister know that we want to create, enhance and support jobs in the current economic climate.”

Councillor Robert Burgess backed the Mournes being designated a national park, with support also voiced by councillor Stephen Burns.

Councillor Patrick Clarke, who said the national park issue should secure political support before a letter is written to Mr. Attwood pledging Down Council support, was informed by councillor Eamonn O’Neill that the local authority supports national park designation and has previously debated the issue on a number of occasions.

It was agreed that Newcastle area councillors who meet this Friday should start the process of drawing up a campaign to support the designation of the Mournes as a national park.