FIRST DRAFT OF BYE-LAWS READY FOR CONSULATION AT MINERSTOWN see here Bye-laws-for-Minerstown-Beach2008
Lecale Conservation Association with the help of Alison White, the council’s legal officer, persisted in the face of multiple bureaucratic obstacles over 7 years from the Department and Belfast Solicitors office to deliver this result.
Thanks to this campaign, Down District Council have started to take the first steps to realise the benefit of preserving the fauna of the District and it potential for Sustainable Tourism, even aside from its legal obligations.
The Department had struck down the new wildlife bye-laws (and every bye-law passed by Council on every subject from littering to drinking in public spaces) and so Council had to apply to the Department to alter its ‘vires’ or legal constitution to allow it to pass bye-laws again.
Campaigners and residents along Minerstown Beach who have witnessed the loss of so many seal pups have expressed delight at the news that Down District Council has succeeded in persuading Minister Poots to alter the councils “vires”.
This brings us 1 step closer to Down Council passing allow beach bye-laws to protect local wildlife in the area during the breeding season.
Picture shows Lecale Conservation members Philip Nye and Cadogan Enright with local resident Johnathan Bradshaw.
