Judicial review of asbestos plans

Campaigners are opposed to plans for an asbestos store

Residents opposed to plans for an asbestos storage site in County Antrim have been granted leave to apply for a judical review of the proposal.

It is proposed that asbestos from all over the province will be taken to a site at nearby Crosshill.

Residents in Crumlin have mounted a long-running campaign to stop asbestos being stored in the village.

Michael Keating of Crumlin Against Asbestos said it was the start of legal proceedings but they were "delighted".

"We have always said that we have genuine concerns over the decision to grant planning permission for the asbestos facility in Crumlin," he said.

"We are confident that those concerns will now be given the attention that they deserve."

So far, the Planning Service has received more than 1,500 letters of objection to the site.

The government has said the plant will pose no risk to health, and gave the green light to plans in March.

The proposal will see double bagged asbestos being transported to Crosshill by the firm Eastwood Ltd, where it will be stored in steel containers before it is moved on for final disposal in England.

However, objectors say they are taking the action because they believe the risk of contamination is too great.