£1k life permits could fundfishermens’ judicial review

Earlier, this year the Sentinel revealed the River Faughan Anglers Association was taking the DoE to court, claiming it is failing to protect the river.

The RFA argues the Faughan should be protected by strict planning control, through the Derry Area Plan, due to its status as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.

In a circular to over 800 permit holders the association says it is considering issuing £1k life permits to fund the action.

The RFA directors state: “In our planning to cover ongoing day to day runing and legal costs for upcoming Judicial Review court case, we are considering the possibility of offering a small number of life permits.”

According to the RFA the life permits will be available through a £1k one-off payment and holders will be subject to club rules.

Last Autumn the anging association accused the planning service of failing to protect the river.

This, however, was denied by the Environment Minister of the time, Alex Attwood.

Nevertheless Mr Attwood told the Sentinel if a Campsie Sand and Gravel Ltd. extraction operation along the river were to be proposed to him in November 2012, he would like to think the development would have been refused.

Paul Doherty, the Director of Campsie Sand and Gravel told the Sentinel the company had submitted a number of planning applications to the DoE planning service, some of which had yet to reach final determination. However, in relation to the anglers’ concerns he directed us to the DoE.