Council is petitioned on Straid Forest plan

Signed by more than 70 residents of Nursery Road, it was handed in to the Chief Executive, Anne Donaghy, by Cllr William McNeilly on their behalf at last Monday night’s October monthly meeting of the local authority.

“They hope that when this comes before Council, this Council will look favourably on this,” said Cllr McNeill.

He added that the objectors all lived within half a mile of the lands where the forest development was proposed.

Quick to support the petition was Cllr Roy Gillespie who said the objectors had his backing, “100 per cent”.

Also voicing their support were Cllr James Henry and Cllr Monica Digney.

“I have been very vociferous in my objections to this - it should be put to the Woodland Trust to take on, this has nothing to do with Council,” said Ms Digney.

The proposal in respect of lands at Nursery Road, Gracehill, prepared by the Woodland Trust had been discussed by Council in detail last year and at their January meeting the decision was taken by councillors not to progress with it

The matter was last aired at their Development and Leisure Services Committee meeting on September 12 and it was decided on a majority vote of 13-2 to seek further clarity from the landowner/Woodland Trust on such issues as - funding opportunities for the project, the role and cost to council, and details of who holds the title for the land involved in the proposal.