Minister swayed by sewage campaign

Omagh residents campaigned against the works

A residents' up backed by its local council have won their 20-year battle to have a sewage works re-sited outside their town.

The residents of the Hunter Crescent area of Omagh, County Tyrone have been successful in persuading regional development minister Gregory Campbell to overrule his department by deciding to site a new £10m sewage works three miles outside the town.

They were dismayed when their campaign against the existing treatment works looked to have resulted rather in a departmental decision to build Omagh's new, bigger plant on the same site.

Their opposition was backed by all the local councillors, and it was enough to persuade the DUP minister to go against his department.

DUP Regional Development Gregory Campbell: Praised for devolution "good example"

The minister announced his decision during a visit to Omagh, adding he had taken the views of councillors and local residents into account when making his decision.

The new £10m wastewater treatment works is now to be built in the Mountjoy area, outside the town.

Mr Campbell said: "During my visit to Omagh Council in September I was impressed by the strong arguments presented by the council and local residents for the new works to be located outside the town and not at the site of the existing works at Hunter Crescent."

Mr Campbell said that he had also met with residents from the Mountjoy area who expressed concern about access to the proposed site.

"I have taken these concerns on board and am pleased that an alternative access will be developed to avoid the majority of houses in the area."

The residents who live beside the current treatment works are delighted that there will soon be an end to the problems they have endured over the years.

Geraldine Keys of the Hunter Crescent Tenants association said: "There were so many problems, the smell, the amount of traffic.

"The local play area is also beside the works. It isn't very environmentally friendly."

'Good example' Local politicians said the minister's decision showed that devolution was working much better than direct rule from Westminster.

Alliance councillor Ann Gormley said: "He took the time out to come and listen to us and the residents of Hunters Crescent and Mountjoy and he made the right decision."

Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Jo Byrne said: "This is an example of a local minister wanting to reflect the interests and wishes of the council and the local people. It was a good example of a local administration working on behalf of the people."

Sinn Fein councillor Barry McIlDuff said: "In this case Gregory Campbell has delivered. It is a good example of devolution, which is why we have to work to keep all the institutions up."