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| Paisley says National Trust north coast golf resort challenge 'a disgrace' | Paisley says National Trust north coast golf resort challenge 'a disgrace' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr has described as a "disgrace to Northern Ireland" a legal challenge by the National Trust over planning permission for a £100m golf resort on the County Antrim coast. | DUP MP Ian Paisley Jr has described as a "disgrace to Northern Ireland" a legal challenge by the National Trust over planning permission for a £100m golf resort on the County Antrim coast. |
| An application to build an 18-hole golf course and hotel complex at Runkerry was given the go-ahead in February. | An application to build an 18-hole golf course and hotel complex at Runkerry was given the go-ahead in February. |
| However, the trust is seeking leave for a judicial review of the decision. | However, the trust is seeking leave for a judicial review of the decision. |
| Mr Paisley said he feared court action would take two years and the developers would begin looking elsewhere. | Mr Paisley said he feared court action would take two years and the developers would begin looking elsewhere. |
| It has been one of Northern Ireland's longest running planning disputes. | It has been one of Northern Ireland's longest running planning disputes. |
| The North Antrim MP said the National Trust had months to make the challenge, adding: "I think their timing stinks - we're three weeks away (from the Irish Open), one of the biggest golf tourism events here. | The North Antrim MP said the National Trust had months to make the challenge, adding: "I think their timing stinks - we're three weeks away (from the Irish Open), one of the biggest golf tourism events here. |
| "Thanks National Trust, at a time of economic depression, you put the two fingers up to everyone in Northern Ireland and say you're going to try to hurt rather than help the economy. | "Thanks National Trust, at a time of economic depression, you put the two fingers up to everyone in Northern Ireland and say you're going to try to hurt rather than help the economy. |
| "You are a disgrace to Northern Ireland." | "You are a disgrace to Northern Ireland." |
| 'Dim view' | 'Dim view' |
| Ministers across all the political parties at Stormont are said to be taking a "dim view" of the challenge. | Ministers across all the political parties at Stormont are said to be taking a "dim view" of the challenge. |
| The new development, on a 365-acre site, is to be known as Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa. It is expected to create 360 new jobs. | The new development, on a 365-acre site, is to be known as Bushmills Dunes Golf Resort and Spa. It is expected to create 360 new jobs. |
| Mr Paisley said: "This wasn't some Johnny-come-lately application that Alex Attwood approved on a whim," he said. | Mr Paisley said: "This wasn't some Johnny-come-lately application that Alex Attwood approved on a whim," he said. |
| "This was 12 years in the process, five ministers examined it, and it went through every conceivable twist and turn of consideration. | "This was 12 years in the process, five ministers examined it, and it went through every conceivable twist and turn of consideration. |
| "The longer you delay, the more chance the private sector will go somewhere else to invest their money." | "The longer you delay, the more chance the private sector will go somewhere else to invest their money." |
| In February, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said the decision to approve the development had not been "taken lightly". | In February, Environment Minister Alex Attwood said the decision to approve the development had not been "taken lightly". |
| The National Trust said, it was given the go-ahead, it was convinced that "the planning application was contrary to a range of the department's planning policies". | |
| On Wednesday, the charity confirmed the legal move saying it had "consistently opposed the planning application". | On Wednesday, the charity confirmed the legal move saying it had "consistently opposed the planning application". |
| 'Fundamental concern' | 'Fundamental concern' |
| It added that, in particular, it was concerned that the entire development was on land zoned in the draft Northern Area Plan as the "distinctive landscape setting of the World Heritage Site in which no development should take place". | It added that, in particular, it was concerned that the entire development was on land zoned in the draft Northern Area Plan as the "distinctive landscape setting of the World Heritage Site in which no development should take place". |
| The trust said: "This is based on a recommendation by UNESCO - the body responsible for World Heritage designations - that there should be a buffer zone to protect the special landscape surrounding the Causeway." | The trust said: "This is based on a recommendation by UNESCO - the body responsible for World Heritage designations - that there should be a buffer zone to protect the special landscape surrounding the Causeway." |
| The charity added that having "carefully considered" all the information relating to the planning decision, there remained "fundamental issues of concern". | The charity added that having "carefully considered" all the information relating to the planning decision, there remained "fundamental issues of concern". |
| It said it had "no option" but to seek leave for a judicial review, so that the decision could be given the "fullest possible consideration." | It said it had "no option" but to seek leave for a judicial review, so that the decision could be given the "fullest possible consideration." |
| However, a source told the BBC that Stormont ministers were angry that the National Trust was attempting to stop a key tourism development in the "midst of the worst recession in living memory". | However, a source told the BBC that Stormont ministers were angry that the National Trust was attempting to stop a key tourism development in the "midst of the worst recession in living memory". |
| Ministers were also annoyed with the timing of the legal challenge in the run-up to the Irish Open event which is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to the area. | |
| However, in a statement on Thursday, the trust denied it had deliberately timed the legal action and said it was "considering the comments" made by Ian Paisley. | |
| "A meeting has been scheduled for a considerable time with Ian Paisley Junior on 22 June 2012 with the senior executives of the National Trust," the statement said. | |
| "It is planned to discuss a wide range of strategic issues at this meeting and we will take the opportunity to dwell on the important matter of the initiation of legal proceedings on the Runkerry Golf Development. | |
| "For clarity, the National Trust is not responsible for the timing of this legal action. The National Trust is complying with a strict timetable which is set out in relation to lodging a legal challenge against a decision made by a public body. | |
| "In the case of a judicial review, this is a three-month window, with a legal obligation to act quickly. This timetable applies irrespective of what the issue is, and any suggestion that the National Trust has chosen the timing of this action, are inaccurate." | |
| BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme is broadcasting live from the north coast between 12:00 and 13:30 BST on Thursday | BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme is broadcasting live from the north coast between 12:00 and 13:30 BST on Thursday |