IN a strong and unequivocal statement on the National Park debate, South Down Sinn Féin MLA Chris Hazzard has made his position very clear.National Parks should not be imposed on communities he maintained and he added that Sinn Féin could not support any proposal for a National Park in the absence of full consultation and agreement from the local community.
Mr Hazzard said: “National parks cannot and should not be foisted upon any community without their consent. The local community’s current and future needs must be taken into account in taking forward any proposal.
“Any proposal being brought forward by Environment Minister Alex Attwood for a National Park in the Mournes must be fully consulted upon, and must include detailed provisions to protect the rights of the local residents, farming and rural dwellers.
“Alex Atwood should not impose a National Park on the people of this constituency. South Down has massive potential to exploit the tourist industry and create businesses and employment with our areas of Natural Outstanding Beauty, our great golf courses, our beaches and our forest parks.
“This area needs to be marketed more aggressively and our business community and tourist industry deserve better from our Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Minister of Tourism and the Development Minister.
“South Down already has many attractions, which aren’t being maximised, and a National Park being imposed on an already heavily restricted rural community is just not the quick fix solution required.
“The farming community in South Down has for generations protected and developed the land, created employment and local interaction when governments have failed successively to act.
“The recent meeting held in Newcastle has shown the level of interest and concern amongst the local population. The rural community has enough restrictions on them at present without extra ones being imposed by designating the Mourne area as a National Park.”
Speaking at Minister’s Question Time today at Stormont, Minister Attwood said that regarding national parks, “I am taking stock.”
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