By Julie Waters
CONCERNED local residents have called for the introduction of ‘third party rights of appeal’ in the planning process after the controversial removal of trees at Crawfordsburn’s Swinley Bay.
A substantial development proposal for three luxury homes overlooking the picturesque cove was granted planning permission by planning officials in 2021 and 2022, and not by elected members of the council’s planning committee.
Local people claim they only became aware of the plans when the ‘chainsaws moved in’ and have begun a campaign to highlight the lack of transparency in the planning process.
At last weekend’s protest, they called for the introduction of a ‘third party right of appeal’ which would allow the public to appeal a decision once it has been given the green light by planning officials. The public currently has no right to appeal a planners’ approval decision.
Over 60 local residents were joined at the protest by North Down MP Alex Easton, along with Stormont Minister Andrew Muir, as well as alderman Martin McRandal and councillors Tom Brady, Wesley Irvine, Carl McClean and Lauren Kendall.
Mr Muir said it was ‘maddening to see trees stripped away’ and the ‘case for third- party right of appeal has again been demonstrated as a result of the works occurring’.
Said Mr Muir: “Many lessons must be learnt from what has happened.
“We need to see more protection for trees in the planning process, given how fundamental they are for our well-being, our climate and our environment.”
The protest was organised by Louise Macartney and Louise Mackey, of the Greenspaces group, who described the environmental destruction in the idyllic bay as ‘heartbreaking’.
Said Ms Mackey: “So many people feel very strongly about the destruction of Swinley Bay and wanted to show it by coming out.
“We also wanted to get elected representatives to come along to see with their own eyes what has happened there already with the felling of the woodland, and what an absolute disaster it will be to have three luxury glass fronted houses on top of this little gem of a bay.”
Ms Mackey said the wild landscape had ‘already been destroyed in the felling of these trees, and the sounds of diggers every day beginning the development. It’s heartbreaking’.
Patrick Cregg, former director of the Woodland Trust, addressed the crowd and described the coastal setting as ‘the jewel in the crown of North Down’.
Mr Cregg said it was ‘heartening’ to see elected representatives from Westminster, Stormont and Bangor City Hall attend the protest.
“We look to these to shape our legislation to ensure that our coastal path is protected for the benefit of people and wildlife,” said Mr Cregg. “We must now maintain a momentum that ensures the wishes of citizens of the borough are respected and acted upon.”
Green Party councillor Lauren Kendall said the ‘devastating destruction’ exposed ‘the urgent need for balance and democracy in the planning system through the introduction of third party rights of appeal, meaningful scrutiny, and significant sanctions for those who breach, or do not robustly enforce, environmental protections’.
Said Ms Kendall: “The Swinley Bay development is not an isolated incident, it is symptomatic of a planning system that is failing the public and failing nature.
“Only structural reform will prevent this from happening again.”
Councillor Tom Brady said: “How can a planning system be fit for purpose if what was advertised did not set off alarm bells?
“The fact there were no objections tells us that the scope of this development was not properly conveyed.”
