Home > Northern Ireland > Success stories
In Northern Ireland Friends of the Earth has scored many remarkable victories on behalf of our threatened world, people and wildlife.
Victories such as:
Ballynahone bog - in 1996 we saved Ballynahone bog, Co. Londonderry, from destruction at the hands of the Bulrush peat company. The bog is one of the finest examples of lowland raised bog in Northern Ireland and is an Area of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site.
Magheramorne landfill site - a proposal by Haul Waste to convert a disused quarry at Magheramorne, Co. Antrim, into a superdump (PDF) was defeated after a lengthy campaign and a Public Inquiry in 1997.
Waste incinerators - in 1997 we challenged two waste incinerator proposals at Public Inquiries. The reports from the inquiries have never been released but it is expected they will be published soon and will refuse planning permission.
Quarry tax - in 2002 we successfully persuaded the UK Government to introduce the Aggregates Levy (PDF) in Northern Ireland, despite heavy lobbying by the construction industry to have Northern Ireland exempted from the tax.
Environmental Protection Agency - in late 2005 a long campaign, in conjunction with 8 other green groups, convinced the Government to hold an independent review of the way Northern Ireland's environment in regulated. The review is very likely to lead to an independent Environmental Protection Agency.
Sewerage - in 2003 we convinced the European Commission to investigate Northern Ireland's poor record on sewage treatment (PDF). Then in 2007 the European Court of Justice ruled the sewage pollution was in breach of European law. A High Court judge ruled in June that Government had been acting unlawfully in its policy on sewage ‘hotspots’. In response to these actions, Water Service has put in place an ambitious programme of investment in new sewage works; and must now take pollution impacts into account when making sewer connections.
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