CAMPAIGN NEWS ARCHIVE

* An end to cattle grazing on Cave Hill?
* Cable Car proposal 2002
* Housing development threat
* Firework ban
* Carnmoney Hill transformed
* Fire-raisers at work June 2004

 

 

An end to cattle grazing on Cave Hill?
We were disappointed to learn recently that Belfast Zoo will cease to graze rare-breed cattle on Cave Hill and we have pressed for a replacement contracted-out cattle grazing programme for habitat preservation, as outlined in the proposed Management Strategy document in July 1999, but so far not acted on.

Cable Car proposal 2002
We had thought that the era of absurd "development" proposals for the Cave Hill was in the past. However, we were wrong. The Belfast Telegraph of Friday 7 June 2002 contained an article on the proposed construction of a cable car between the zoo car park and the summit of Cave Hill, which we now know means 100 metres north of MacArts Fort. We think this is an environmentally destructive proposal and we have issued the following press release:

Press Statement - Friday 7 June 2002:
Campaign Condemns Cave Hill Cable Car Plan
The Cave Hill Conservation Campaign today condemned plans by the previously unknown Bellevue Cableway Group to promote a cable car development running from Bellevue to the summit of Cave Hill. Mr John Gray, Chairman of the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign, said 'This is the kind of environmentally destructive mega-development that was fashionable in the 1970's and 80's. Previous cable car plans were quite rightly rejected then, and there will be massive public opposition to the attempt to resurrect any such scheme'.

The Campaign points out that a cable-car would deliver massive numbers to the summit area of the Cave Hill, a unique and sensitive environment, where the maintenance of paths is already a major problem, and the historic feature of McArt's Fort is already threatened by serious erosion. The impact of a cable-car would simply convert existing and manageable problems into uncontrolled disaster.

The Campaign liases closely with the Parks department of Belfast City Council, and met with officers as recently as 21st May. Certainly then there was no inkling of any such scheme. The Campaign is confident that councillors and their officers will maintain their quite correct commitment to the Cave Hill as a unique environmental asset for the city with major visitor potential precisely because of its unspoilt nature. The Campaign notes that the Bellevue Cableway group has been in existence for two years and that it claims that it wishes 'to work with --- conservationists'. If that is the case, the campaign is surprised that the Group has made no contact with the Cave Hill Conservation Campaign, the major conservation group concerned with the area.

John Gray comments, 'Perhaps they are doing no more than flying a kite to see how far it will go. They should understand now that it will plummet to earth very quickly!'

Letter to Belfast Telegraph
This is the text of a letter from John Gray which was published in the Belfast Telegraph on 20 August 2002:

"Many Belfast citizens will be aghast at the prospect of an environmentally ruinous cableway running to the summit of Cave Hill. They will rely on Belfast City Council, which owns the property, to deal with the issue with the seriousness which it deserves.

To date, the parks and amenities committee of the council have granted priveleged access to the would-be developers alone and on a confidential basis. The Cave Hill Conservation Campaign has requested permission to send a depuation to the committee to make representations on the issue and a reply is still awaited.

Councillor Jim Rodgers has now chosen to voice his public support for the cableway on the basis of proceedings at the confidential meeting of the parks and amenities committee. He has, of course, done so before any consideration of the powerful arguments against any such proposal. We trust that his colleagues in his own party and across the political spectrum will show wiser counsel and will ensure that all arguments are heard before they seriously entertain any such proposal."

  1. The physical aspects of the project would have a major detrimental impact on the area. This refers both to the cable car itself and the proposed "intepretive centre" which would be sited on the highest point of Cave Hill.
  2. The project would have major visual amenity impact and by delivering large numbers to the summit area would cause major environmental damage to birdlife, flora and archaeological sites.
  3. The project would run counter to Belfast City Council's policy of promoting sustainable tourism.
  4. The project is likely to be a financial loss-maker and should not be supported by ratepayers' money in any way. A similar project in the Cairngorms has run significantly over-budget and has cost the taxpayer over £13 million to date.
  5. The project would have to be subjected to a public enquiry and would be opposed by the entire environmental movement.

We understand that following our presentation, the sub-committee decided to take no further action. However, this is quite different from ruling the project out and leaves it open to the promoters to make further representations. Nevertheless, during our presentation we were very encouraged to hear from Councillor Rogers, who was in the chair, that the sub-committee had made it clear to the promoters of the project at their presentation on 13 August that no ratepayers' money was available. We think it is most unlikely that any private funding will be available either and we are hopeful that no more will be heard of this proposal. However, we will remain on alert and we have plans to mount a major campaign if this becomes necessary.

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Major development threat to the Cave Hill: 160 houses?
In September 2000, the Campaign learnt that there will probably be an application for outline planning permission to build houses on the land presently occupied by the farm above the top of the Upper Cave Hill Road. This would represent a major incursion into greenbelt land and would destroy the rural character of the area, as well as putting further pressure on the local habitat. The area involved is approximately 20 acres, which could accommodate 160 houses at a typical density of eight houses per acre. The photograph shows some of the land which would be built on. To date, no planning application has been made. However, this has obvious relevance to BMAP.
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A firework ban was agreed for the Belfast Castle estate by Belfast City Council at a meeting of the parks sub-committee in September 2002. This followed widespread compaints (including one from this campaign) after a lengthy firework display in May that year at which very powerful fireworks were used and the noise was heard over a wide area of Belfast. We welcome this action on behalf of local residents and the wildlife in the Cave Hill Country Park. If you hear any fireworks in this area, you should report it immediately to Belfast City Council.
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Carnmoney Hill is being transformed by the The Woodland Trust which has created Rathfern Wood, a community woodland, footpaths and ponds on a 25 acre site. The site has been leased with the help of the Millennium Commission and Newtownabbey Borough Council. Much of the credit goes to an active group of local residents. The Trust has now exercised an option to lease a further 136 acres of grassland, wetland and woodland and will plant a further 50,000 trees to link and buffer the existing fragments of anclent woodland which have survived on the hill. The project is now known as the Carnmoney Hill Mosaic and has received financial support from Newtownabbey Borough Council, the Environment and Heritage Service, the Forest Service and the New Opportunities Fund.
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The Belfast Hills have been proposed by RSPB Northern Ireland as a Special Protection Area for peregrines and hen harriers under the Birds' Directive of the European Union.
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The Cave Hill burning on 2 June 2004. An active gang of vandals started many fires in the area over a two week period. Unfortunately, any dry spell brings the same problems. Even more unfortunately, as far as we know, no-one has been made amenable.

Although the damage has mostly been confined to gorse and grass areas, this still degrades the eco system and kills wildlife.

Like they care!