Action against Lough Neagh sand dredging is long overdue – Lo

Alliance Environment spokesperson, Anna Lo MLA, has welcomed the action that the Environment Minister has taken against companies that have been dredging sand from Lough Neagh. The Minister has issued enforcement notices to five companies telling them to stop dredging by the end of June or face prosecution.

Anna Lo MLA said: “I am glad that after years of inaction, the Department of the Environment has finally taken action against the companies who are dredging sand from Lough Neagh. The Department must bring prosecutions if these companies do not abide by these enforcement notices.

“Lough Neagh is a large natural resource for Northern Ireland and its ecosystems must be protected.

“The unauthorised extraction of sand has been going on for too long and it was disappointing that the Department had previously failed to take action.

“I hope that this will send out an important signal that any action which threatens the environment will not be tolerated.”

ENDS