Council seek legal advice over landfill site

BALLYMONEY Borough Council has agreed to seek a legal opinion in relation to the closing of a landfill site.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2010, 14:42 BST
Updated 12th Apr 2010, 15:19 BST

The issue was raised after Council received a letter from the DoE concerning the Department’s views on the implications of the Landfill Directive for sites which closed after the EU’s directive was passed in 2001 but before the Directive was transposed into Law in Northern Ireland in 2004.

Four other Councils, Antrim, Castlereagh, Limavady and Lisburn, also received similar letters.

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The Chief Executive, Mr John Dempsey explained: “Five Councils, including Ballymoney, have received similar letters from the DoE concerning the Department’s views on the implications of the Landfill Directive for sites which closed after the EU’s directive was passed in 2001 but before the Directive was transposed into Law in Northern Ireland in 2004.

“Officers from the five Councils met last week and approval is sought to join with the other Councils to seek a legal opinion on the validity of the Department’s interpretation of the law.”

In response, Cllr James Simpson asked: “What advice is from the DoE? Questions should be asked in Assembly rather than taking legal action.”

Disagreeing Cllr Mervyn Storey said: “The place to ask questions is this Council. We made the decision to close to landfill on the basis of the information we were given years ago so we wouldn’t fall fowl. So why in 2010 is the DoE coming and telling us there is a problem? I would like to see the minutes of what we agreed in 2001.

“I hope we are not running into another issue on landfill - we really need to put this in the dump. I would therefore be happy to get legal action.”

Cllr John Finlay seconded the proposal.