Green Deputy Leader welcomes court ruling on no gas caverns campaign

A huge victory today for the dedicated team at No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth as the Court of Appeal rules that DAERA made an irrational decision when allowing plans for the construction of environmentally damaging storage caverns under Larne Lough.

The plans would have seen the construction of seven skyscraper sized caverns under Larne Lough. These were to be carved out of salt layers under the lough which would have resulted in the creation of a ‘dead zone’ due to the excavation process. Priority species, which are protected under legislation, including harbour porpoise and skate can be found within 100 meters of the discharge point. The resulting hyper salination of the water in the Lough would have resulted in environmental damage for several kilometres and would cause major environmental destruction to the area.

Green Party Deputy Leader Lesley Veronica said "Today’s ruling has been five years in the making. It is no underestimation to say that the core of this has been a group of concerned Islandmagee citizens’ who have worked tirelessly to see the original permission overturned."

"No Gas Caverns have also acknowledged the importance of the support they received from groups such as RSPB, Ulster Wildlife, Wild Justice, Uplift UK, Law for Change, The PILS project and of course Friends of the Earth, Northern Ireland."

"On the same day when the EU passed the Nature Restoration Law this ruling establishes guidelines for future decisions and makes it clear that the courts are prepared to make sure that the Executive acts within the law."

"The Green Party want to extend a huge congratulations and sincere thanks to all of those who have worked so hard for both of these significant environmental victories and hope that this is the start of many more to come."