Northern Ireland

Environmental campaigner loses legal challenge against new fishing tourism facility near Derry

Dean Blackwood is director of the River Faughan Anglers Ltd, a cross-community organisation which manages fishing rights. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Dean Blackwood is director of the River Faughan Anglers Ltd, a cross-community organisation which manages fishing rights. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Dean Blackwood is director of the River Faughan Anglers Ltd, a cross-community organisation which manages fishing rights. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

AN environmental campaigner has lost a legal challenge to the planned building of a new fishing tourism facility.

Dean Blackwood issued proceedings against the decision to approve six cottage-style apartments and a manager's dwelling along the River Faughan near Derry.

Mr Justice Bernard McCloskey rejected claims the development authorised by the city's council breached habitats regulations and other grounds and dismissed the application for judicial review.

Planning permission, also includes landscape works at the site opposite Lismacarrol and Glenshane Roads in Crossballycormick.

Mr Blackwood is director of the River Faughan Anglers Ltd, a cross-community organisation which manages fishing rights.

The retired chartered town planner took the case as a personal litigant, believing the scheme could have a significant impact on a stretch of water afforded the highest environmental protection in Europe.

He said it has been designated special conversation status for salmon, otters and oak woodland and said proper assessments had not been carried out before granting planning permission.

Mr Blackwood claimed the impact of the proposed development on a protected species of bats was not considered.

Mr Justice McCloskey praised the "articulate and measured terms" in which Mr Blackwood presented his case, adding it raised several issues of sufficient gravity and substance to warrant careful examination.

However, he rejected the alleged breaches of Habitats and Environmental Impact Assessment regulations, along with claims that previous, lapsed grants of planning permission had been wrongly taken into account.

The judge said some criticisms were "largely characterised by bare assertion and mere subjective disagreement".

Mr Blackwood can appeal the ruling.