Councillors united behind Councillor Muir’s motion at the Corporate Services Committee, urging DRD Minister Michele McIIveen to immediately instruct NI Water to remove Cairn Wood from sale, leaving it in public hands.
The Council meeting comes after Councillor Muir launched a petition which has gathered over 2,000 signatures – which is set to be presented to the Minister at the Assembly next Tuesday.
Councillor Andrew Muir said: “NI Water is determined to sell off Cairn Wood to the highest bidder, a move which DRD Minister Michelle McIIveen is completely compliant with.
“Left up to them, this fantastic asset used by dog walkers, mountain bikers, ramblers and many other will be lost forever and all for what seems to be no more than a plan for NI Water to make some easy money with a uncertain future ahead for Cairn Wood and real worries about what site could be used for.
“You only have to look at the numbers who have signed my petition – only launched at the start of December 2015, but with already over to 2,000 signatures – including it seems the DUP’s own Jim Shannon MP.
“Local people have made it clear, Cairn Wood is a resource to be treasured and they aren’t prepared to stand back and allow NI Water and the DRD Minister take it away from them. Everyone is invited to come along to show their support for the campaign to stop the sale of Cairn Wood at Parliament Buildings, Stormont next Tuesday January 19, 2016 at 10am when the petition will be presented by my colleague Mr Chris Lyttle MLA.
“As one person who has signed the petition stated ‘Once sold never retrieved. Sell in haste and regret at leisure’. People may continue to sign the petition and show their support at www.andrewmuir.net“