15 November 2001 Edition
Lough Neagh lignite mining reprieve
Communities along the western shores of Lough Neagh are relieved that two requests for lignite mining have been withdrawn.
The two licenses had been sought to mine a large, densely populated area along the western shores of Lough Neagh that spread into both Cookstown and Dungannon district council areas, affecting both rural and urban communities.
Lat week's news that Anglo-Pacific had withdrawn its request to mine lignite was welcomed by Sinn Féin councillor and chair of Cookstown District Council Pearse McAleer who has campaigned to block prevent the lignite mining. A second licence has also been withdrawn.
"People looked at the possibility of prospecting by a multinational company with very real fear," said McAleer. "The idea that this scenic area would be destroyed by open cast mining was too frightening".
Community and environmental groups as well as local politicians had campaigned vigorously to prevent lignite mining since it was revealed that
the licenses had been issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Enterprise.
The two licenses had been sought to mine a large, densely populated area along the western shores of Lough Neagh that spread into both Cookstown and Dungannon district council areas, affecting both rural and urban communities.
Lat week's news that Anglo-Pacific had withdrawn its request to mine lignite was welcomed by Sinn Féin councillor and chair of Cookstown District Council Pearse McAleer who has campaigned to block prevent the lignite mining. A second licence has also been withdrawn.
"People looked at the possibility of prospecting by a multinational company with very real fear," said McAleer. "The idea that this scenic area would be destroyed by open cast mining was too frightening".
Community and environmental groups as well as local politicians had campaigned vigorously to prevent lignite mining since it was revealed that
the licenses had been issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Enterprise.