‘No need to rush into National Park designation’

ACKNOWLEDGING the fact that no enabling legislation has been enacted for the designation of National Parks, Moyle SDLP Councillors Dónal Cunningham and Catherine McCambridge have nevertheless urged the DOE not to rush into any designation particularly in relation to the Glens of Antrim and the Causeway Coast.

In a statement, the two local representatives said: “The Glens of Antrim and Causeway Coast area are already amongst the most protected natural environments. Designations include AONB(Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), ASSI (Area of Special Scientific Interest), WHS (World Heritage Site), Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) as well as Conservation Towns and Villages, all of which serve to conserve natural beauty – which by statute includes wildlife, physiographic features and cultural heritage as well as the more conventional concepts of landscape and scenery

“Moyle Council has been proactive in improving sustainable tourism and access to the natural environment; at this stage it is not clear what improvements, if any, National Park designation would bring.”