Opposition To Delamont Viking Village Mounts

“There are wider issues such as xa0the viability of the project and the cost to rate-payers should the project fail. Also, there has been some secrecy surrounding a business plan put forward by xa0the Magnus Viking Association (MVA), the commercial backers of the proposed development. It is on environmental grounds that Lecale Conservation most strongly objects. We would not be objecting if the MVA were to accept one of the alternative sites they have been offered within Delamont Park. These sites would not impact on the integrity of Strangford Lough.” [caption id="attachment_27101" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="Members of Lecale Conservation in Delamont Park look over the proposed area of development for a Viking village. The development area is behind the people in the foreground."][/caption] Magnus Barelegs Vikings, however, argue that given that some of the information is of a commercially sensitive nature, it should not go into the public domain. “Lecale Conservation is currently appealing a decision by Down District Council not to release the business plan for the proposed development,” added John Peacocke. “Important information concerning the number of visitors and the costs should be fully available to the public at large who will be presumably required to support the project though their rates if it gets into difficulty”. “We call on councillors to review this situation, and go back to the original council position of only supporting this application if it is in the area of Delamont Park originally recommended by management with access to mains sewerage, powerxa0and water and away from sensitive shore-line areas. “There are therefore several clear reasons for calling on the Council not to grant a 25 year lease to Strangford Lough’s shores. Firstly, there isxa0fear thatxa0 noise and disturbancexa0 created byxa0 use of the sitexa0 willxa0xa0 drive awayxa0 wildlife from the foreshore,xa0 whichxa0 isxa0xa0 protectedxa0 in UK and EU Law byxa0 Strangford`sxa0 manyxa0 environmentalxa0 designations. “Secondly, thexa0 proposedxa0 reed bedxa0 seweragexa0 system may prove inadequate in certain circumstances,xa0causing pollution to Strangford Lough.xa0 So far, the projectxa0 has notxa0 obtainedxa0 Discharge Consent from the Northern Ireland Environmnet Agency. Also, there is a xa0lackxa0 ofxa0 transparencyxa0 in respectxa0 ofxa0xa0 information aboutxa0 MVA`sxa0 business plans ,xa0 the sourcesxa0 of the considerablexa0 funding involved,xa0 andxa0 futurexa0 prospectsxa0 ofxa0 change of usexa0 of whatxa0 isxa0 potentiallyxa0 an extremely valuablexa0 seasidexa0 developmentxa0 site. xa0When the plans were first put forward, at a public meetingxa0 in the Saintxa0 Patrick`s Centre, many Councillors, businessmen andxa0 local peoplexa0 declared then thatxa0 the xa0loughsidexa0 site wouldxa0 be an unacceptablexa0 option. “There will also be a loss ofxa0 amenityxa0xa0 to Delamont Park users,xa0 in respectxa0 ofxa0 obstructionxa0 to established rights- of-way. “And there is a presumptionxa0 thatxa0 extraxa0 chargesxa0 may be leviedxa0 upon visitors.” The potentially large tourist business proposed by the Magnus Vikings Association has to run the gauntlet of the full chamber of Down District Council this coming Monday evening (22nd August). It is understood that if full planning permission is granted by Down District Council, Lecale Conservation may activate options to challenge this decision under EU law. The site proposed by the MVA development is a RAMSAR site, and has other environmental designations such as Area of xa0Outstanding Natural Beauty, Special Area of Conservation and it is also adjacent to the Marine Nature Reserve. Breaches of EU law may carry heavy penalties for the agencies involved and possibly even for the decision-makers themselves. Across Ireland there have been a number of historical re-enactment Viking groups emerging and these groups are often part of a European-wide movement following the huge interest in Viking history and culture. The MVA believe that this Viking village will add to the local tourist economy, and will provide a useful educationa platform for school children who can experience first hand the living history xa0of the Vikings who invaded Ireland a thousand years ago. The Viking village proposal has already been supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and has been screened by the Planning Service. Down News will be reporting from the Council meeting on August 22nd.]]>