This venerable old oak tree has greeted visitors to Rostrevor's ancient woodland for generations. It is valued and cherished for its beauty, for the sense of well-being it provides to those who pass it, as a habitat for hundreds of native species, for the role it plays in regulating our climate and as part of the Mournes' landscape referred to by CS Lewis as his idea of Narnia. In short, this tree is part of our community.
However, in pursuit of planning approval for a high-density residential development bordering this woodland, developer JC Campbell erased this tree and its history from a tree survey supporting their application. The planning application was subsequently approved by six Newry, Mourne and Down District Council councillors contrary to the planning department's recommendation for refusal. The motion to approve the planning application was twice brought forward by current Council Chairman Mark Murnin.
We are now calling on our Council to protect 'The Invisible Tree', the safety of road users and trust in our elected representatives and planning system by revoking this planning approval. This would allow the developer to hold a public consultation and follow due process by assessing the potential traffic and environmental impacts of the proposed development. If you would like to lend 'The Invisible Tree' your voice, please consider our suggestion to copy, paste, amend with your own thoughts and send this letter to the addresses below�
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Dear Mr Hannaway and Councillors,
I am writing to make a formal request that, under the power granted by Section 68 of the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, you revoke the approval made by six councillors on Newry, Mourne and Down Council's Planning Committee for the Shore Road development P/2009/1336/F in Rostrevor.
It is my concern that, despite the Judicial Review decision on this case, the plans as they stand could have detrimental consequences on the following:
1) The safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on a busy and dangerous stretch of the A2 protected road.
Reason: no transport assessment was carried out for the approved plans, despite one being called for by DfI Roads Service.
2) The long-term preservation of Rostrevor Oakwood.
Reason: no environmental impact assessment, updated bat survey or Habitat Assessment, called for by NIEA, were carried out for the approved plans.
3) The integrity and future functioning of the Council's planning department.
Reason: a key strategic aim for transferring planning powers to Council level was to promote a participatory planning system. No Public consultation was carried out for the approved plans. Furthermore, your Planning Department have conceded they attached an unenforceable planning condition to the approval notice, thus failing the six tests for planning conditions.
Please confirm receipt of this email and advise on what course of action you propose to take to address this matter.
Sincerely,
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liam.hannaway@nmandd.org, jarlath.tinnelly@nmandd.org,declan.mcateer@nmandd.org,michael.carr@nmandd.org,gillian.fitzpatrick@nmandd.org,oksana.mcmahon@nmandd.org,michael.ruane@nmandd.org,naomi.bailie@nmandd.org,dermot.curran@nmandd.org,cadogan.enright@nmandd.org,john.trainor@nmandd.org,charlie.casey@nmandd.org,valerie.harte@nmandd.org,
david.hyland@nmandd.org,michael.savage@nmandd.org,gary.stokes@nmandd.org,terry.andrews@nmandd.org,patrick.brown@nmandd.org,robert.burgess@nmandd.org,william.walker@nmandd.org,roisin.howell@nmandd.org,garth.craig@nmandd.org,andrew.mcmurray@nmandd.org,
john.rice@nmandd.org,pete.byrne@nmandd.org,terry.hearty@nmandd.org,micky.larkin@nmandd.org,kate.loughran@nmandd.org,roisin.mulgrew@nmandd.org,barra.omuiri@nmandd.org,david.taylor@nmandd.org,william.clarke@nmandd.org,laura.devlin@nmandd.org,glyn.hanna@nmandd.org, jill.macauley@nmandd.org,brian.quinn@nmandd.org,henry.reilly@nmandd.org,