Lo highlights need for National Park in Northern Ireland at visit to Loch Lomond

Alliance Environment Spokesperson Anna Lo MLA, who is chair of the Environment Committee, will highlight the need for Northern Ireland to have a National Park during her visit to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park in Scotland on Wednesday 26^th September with her Committee. Northern Ireland is the only region in these Islands that does not have a National Park.

Anna Lo MLA said: “Northern Ireland has an incredibly beautiful environment with locations that includes the Mournes, Giant’s Causeway, the Fermanagh Lakes, the Sperrins and Strangford Lough. However despite these magnificent areas, Northern Ireland remains the only part of these Islands without a National Park.

“There has been a long campaign for us to finally get a National Park, so I was very heartened by the announcement earlier this year by the Environment Minister of several possible locations for a National Park.

“However I am beginning to get concerned that Alex Attwood seems unable to show the leadership needed to deliver this project. Getting this proposal through would be no easy task but the current language coming from the Minister has led to some people to speculate that he has given up hope that he can get this through. He may deny it but his use of the phrase “stock taking” means the proposal has been left on the shelf.

“By visiting this National Park in Scotland I hope that I will be able to press the Environment Minister of the benefits that a National Park would bring to both the area where it is located and Northern Ireland in general.”

ENDS