Hi folks, just a quick report on tonight's People and Communities committe in Council. 

Tonight I raised two issues in relation to the Colin area.

Firstly, regarding Council's air pollution strategy, I welcomed the announcement that Mullahglass Landfill is finally set to be closed and capped. 

This is something People Before Profit has campaigned for over the last number of years. 

However, despite this, concern over air pollution persists in Colin. I have recieved a number of complaints myself, regarding an odour apparently emanating from the Natural World Products site on the Glenside Road. 

I've asked Council to disclose the number of complaints recieved regarding this over the last few months, and requested Council prioritise the Bt17 area as a target location for extra air quality monitoring devices.

This will help ascertain if there remains a disproportionate problem of air pollution in the Colin area, despite the closure of Mullaghglass. 

Council is to bring back a report to committee on this, and I will be following it up to update residents, and ensure any ongoing issue of air pollution is thoroughly addressed.

Tonight, we also discussed the motion I brought to Council calling for the abolition of disproportionate burial fees for Colin residents in Blaris cemetary. 

Currently, residents in Colin are being charged three times (£1260) that of Lisburn residents (£340) to bury loved ones in Blaris Cemetary. This is totally unacceptable, especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

Following a discussion at committee it was agreed that Belfast City Council will seek a joint meeting with Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, to discuss the issue of overcharging residents for burials. 

I will use this meeting as an opportunity to push for these unjust fees to be scrapped, and will update residents of when the meeting is due to take place. 

If anyone needs to contact me regarding either of these issues, or any other matter, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thanks!
Cllr Michael Collins
People Before Profit 
People before profit story Blaris Fees 11/10/22