Viking Village Lease At Delamont Country Park Approved

This lease was finally granted by the committee after it voted  privately ‘in committee’ with a majority in favour of the decision to grant the lease with the proviso of  a strict condition that a reed bed sewage filtration system would not be used. [caption id="attachment_4444" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The walled garden at Delamont Country Park near Killyleagh was ruled out as an alterative site for the Viking village after the Council decided to approve a lease for a site near the shore. "][/caption] The meeting on Monday 5th September began with a bit of drama as a descussion of Council standing orders limited the number of members of the public who could attend and consequently three local Killyleagh residents had to leave. The meeting progressed with the environmental lobby first making its presentation. James Orr, Friends of the Earth Director, explained that as a former director of Castle Espie Wildfowl Centre, he had installed a reed bed system and was very familiar with this front edge eco-technology. He said he believed that the proposal to put a reed bed system on the Delamont Park site was a flawed idea saying that “the area concerned would need to be fenced off, that the management of the system require engineering as well as eco skills, and that  there is concern of teh danger to the lough area protected by the Habitat and the Birds Directives and other EU environmental legislation. This system is prone to failure and I do not commend its installation on this site” However, Mr Orr did explain that he would find the use of a septic tank acceptable as an alternative. It is understood that at the site there is currently no mains sewage and the MVA would have to find funding to have this installed… a sum of in excess of £100,000. Also representing the environmental and residents interests was South Down MLA Jim Wells who cited a number of other similar projects such as the Yorvik centre in York and across the UK that had failed and had become burdens on the ratepayers. The objectors group was headed by Agnes Peacocke of Lecale Conservation who had concerns about shore-side developments on Strangford Lough which is designated as a Marine Nature Reserve, AONB, a RAMSAR site and has other designations. She said, “The proposed development will violate an iconic placid landscape walk along well kept parkland, beside unkempt hedgerows full of wildlife, across an ancient stone stile, and along a tree lined country lane within sight and sound of the wild bird sanctuary of the Strangford foreshore.” Mrs Peacocke pointed out that  as the business case had not been made available for scrutiny and requests through Freedom of Information had been denied, that a complaint is being processed to the Information Commissioner. [caption id="attachment_27773" align="alignright" width="400" caption="The area near the shore of Strangford Lough where the Viking village is planned to be located. "][/caption] Philip Campbell, Chairman of the MVA said after hearing the Council’s decision, “It is disappointing that the Councillors do not agree that the reed bed sewage system is fit for purpose. It is a complex issue technologically and some of them were really just getting to grips with it for the first time at this crucial stage of the debate. We have spent nine years developing this project and spent many thousands of pounds so far. We could be in operation in a couple of years if everything was in place. Now we will have to have a meeting with our committee and decide how to move forward. At the next full Council meeting we expect this final approval to be rubber stamped and from there we can plan ahead. “There has been much discussion too about the MVA being offered alternative sites in Delamont Country Park. All I can say is that we were asked verbally if we would relocate to another site and at no time have we been formally written to by the Council by any officer. This is our preferred site and now it has been approved for a lease.” During the presentation at the Council chamber, discussion arose about offers of alternative sites to the MVA.  The former Council director Martyn Todd who retired in 2009 has since written to all the local Down District Councillors insisting that he did in fact offer alternative sites to the MVA. The objectors  had made it clear in their presentation that they were not opposed in principle to the MVA locating elsewhere in the park but feared that pollution could occur near the shore site. However, Philip Campbell said that “it was not an option” to move to another site as they had never been offered one. Other option for siting the MVA village included the Walled Garden and the Farmhouse area which had mains sewage and other services including parking. Philip Campbell explained that a shore-based site was consistent with where Vikings would have located traditionally having access to their longships, but he re-iterated that given the tidal nature of the shore adjacent to the site that the MVA would not be using the shore as part of the Viking village experience. He added, “This project will add to local tourism and provide useful educational resources fro schoolchildren. Our team of MVA volunteers are dedicated and have spend many years working together in trying to develop this. They have already raised substantial funds to progress the viking village and now hopefully we can move on to the next step once we receive our letter of approval of the lease. This will be a turning point.” Also commenting from the MVA was Alison McGrenaghan, PR Officer, adding, “It is very important to be clear on this. We will not be asking the Council to subsidise this project at any time. We will not be a burden on the ratepayers.”]]>