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More positive feelings emerge on AONB Management Plan

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

People who attended the Atticall meeting last week were placed into groups to discuss the proposal 05801ipc.

MORE positive feelings have started to emerge regarding the Management Plan on the Mourne Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
At the most recent meeting on the Consultation Draft of the plan approximately 60 people were involved in discussions which saw groups formed to encourage active participation in shaping the plan.
Local farmers, landowners, business owners and residents were in attendance at Tory Bush Cottages in Castlewellan to discuss the management plan. It followed a meeting on the previous Monday evening in Atticall that saw farmers voice their suspicion of the plan, saying they have "serious reservations" about the Mourne Heritage Trust being in charge.
Some comments from the former meeting claimed the MHT "just do not listen", "they have their own agenda" and "there is a huge conflict of interest."
However, there seems to have been a shift in mindset as more positive remarks have come forward from the most recent meeting.
Chief Executive of the MHT, Martin Carey said he was encouraged by the large attendance at the meeting, as well as "constructive input" and "challenging questions" that were put forward.
“Views have spanned a spectrum of opinion including some stakeholders who would prefer no AONB designation and/or have questioned the need for the plan," he said.
"We are anxious to ensure that how we conduct our services takes reasonable account of the varying perspectives within the community which, for example, includes landowners who have availed of our visitor management services, as well as other business people, tourism interests and large landowners like Northern Ireland Water and National Trust."
Some of the issues discussed at Wednesday's meeting included the rising age profile of those involved in farming, the need for sustainable local employment, the provision of allotments to encourage healthy eating, training local people in tourism, the poor roads and car parking provision in the area as well as the need to improve rural public transport, the merits or otherwise of signage in the uplands and whether ranger services should cover private as well as publically owned lands.
Newry and Mourne Councillor Mick Murphy attended the meeting and felt that it was "very, very positive."
“People were up to speed as much as possible as to what was happening," said the Sinn Fein Councillor. "They were very positive.
“At the start there were a few individuals who tried to talk on the National Park idea, but they were told that it had nothing to do with the National Park and that it was to do with the Mourne Heritage Trust.
“They were advising people about grants and I came out of the meeting feeling that people were informed very very much and there were contacts for them if they needed help."
Councillor Murphy said out of the number of those who attended the meeting it was a minimal number who spoke about their concerns regarding the National Park.
“It has nothing to do with the National Park and the meeting had nothing to do with that, and they were told that," he said.
While at the meeting Councillor Murphy welcomed investment in the area and the completion of a number of projects as well as those that are ongoing.
“We need however to see additional money made available for the provision and upgrade of new and existing pathways, parks and public facilities," he said.
“Every effort must be made therefore to ensure the unique natural habitat of the Mournes is preserved and enhanced so it is able to support a diverse range of wildlife and fauna.
“At this meeting I made clear that Sinn Fein is also totally opposed to badger baiting, which we consider cruel and inhumane.
“We support the managed culls of badgers as a last resort and believe that constant monitoring of diseases, such as Bovine TB is essential and necessary in order to ensure a vibrant farming sector and the production of quality produce."
Martin Carey was also keen to remind those present that the AONB Management Plans are not statutory documents in Northern Ireland, which means that organisations and individuals are not bound by their contents.
“Few people perhaps are likely to feel that all of their views have been reflected exactly in the final plan, not least since the views of some stakeholders conflict with those of others, but we do hope that people will feel we have made reasonable efforts to balance all the input received," he said.

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