Press release

Golf resort threatens Giant's Causeway

21 February 2012

Friends of the Earth has condemned today's decision by Minister Attwood to give the green light to the Runkerry development in North Antrim.

Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, James Orr, said

"A sensible approach to managing our economy would protect the assets of our most important tourist attraction - the Giants Causeway [1]. There is a sustainable supply of jobs in conservation and heritage. Why put this at risk?  Many discerning tourists will not expect to see a new hotel, practice greens, lighting, new houses and manicured lawns so close to the spectacular wildness of the Giants Causeway."

"By all means build another golf resort and hotel but not here.  Is it too much to ask that we build it in the right place and in a way that is supported by planning policies? "

Mr Orr added:

"Planning policies for that area are very clear - the landscape around the Giants Causeway should be protected. Instead, a form of landscape trauma is being permitted at Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site. It's like building a drive-through burger bar at the Taj Mahal. The precedent set today is that our planning system still cannot protect our most special places."

Note

[1] The Runkerry development is in a highly sensitive area - it is  within the setting of the Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site; it abounds the Runkerry Area of Special Scientific Interest and Area of Constraint on Mineral Development; it is close to the North Antrim Coast Special Area of Conservation and Area of Constraint on Mineral Development; the site lies  within the Causeway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the proposed Bushfoot Local Landscape Policy Area as well as being within a Countryside Policy Area; the site contains almost all of the proposed Bushfoot Dunes Site of Local Nature Conservation Interest.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust