Friday 8 September 2000
Written Answers to Questions

THE ENVIRONMENT

Mr Taylor asked the Minister of the Environment what progress there has been with the planning arrangements for the Comber by-pass during the past 12 months; when will there be a planning decision in relation to the proposed major residential development at the location of the Comber by-pass; how long this Planning application has been with his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 8/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The planning application, which incorporates a proposal for the Comber bypass, was received on 12 November 1998. The Department determined that an environmental statement (ES) was required, and this was received on 21 June 1999. Following statutory consultation, an addendum to the ES was received on 19 January 2000. The main issues arising are conservation, land quality, contaminated land and flooding. The matter is also relevant to the emerging Ards and Down area plan. Senior planning officials are to attend a meeting of the Comber Development Association on 13 September 2000 to discuss the proposals. Following this, the Planning Service intends to take a decision on how to progress the application.

Mr Attwood asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what plans he has to carry out a rating revaluation of non-domestic properties.

(AQW 13/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): The current valuation list was published on 31 December 1996 and came into effect on 1 April 1997. Since that time some differential shifts in rental patterns have taken place, and these are not reflected in the net annual values appearing in the list. This creates anomalies between different areas and between different classes of property and distorts the fair distribution of the overall rates burden between ratepayers. A revaluation of the non-domestic sector will therefore be undertaken by the Valuation and Lands Agency, and work on this will commence immediately. The domestic sector is not being revalued at this time, but the position will be kept under review and considered in the context of a wider review of the rating system which was signalled in my Budget speech to the Assembly on 15 December last.

The new valuation list will be published on or before 31 December 2002 and will come into effect on 1 April 2003. Any ratepayer who is aggrieved by his or her new valuation will have statutory rights of appeal, including an appeal to the independent Lands Tribunal.

Mr Davis asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline the position regarding the outbreak of cryptosporidium in the Lisburn area and whether he will give an assurance that it is unlikely the outbreak will spread elsewhere; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 6/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): The most recent information available indicates that 81 cases of cryptosporidiosis have been confirmed in the area supplied with drinking water from the Forked Bridge water treatment works through the Lagmore conduit. The areas affected broadly include north Lisburn, Poleglass and Dunmurry. Approximately 90,000 customers are now affected by the "boil water" notice in these areas.

Investigations have indicated that there has been contamination of a section of the Lagmore conduit. An examination of the seven-mile-long conduit confirmed that there had been ingress because of damage to the crown of the conduit. It is believed that the damage was caused when an outfall was being laid from a septic tank attached to a property built in the last few years. The damage has been repaired and the conduit has been sealed.

The Water Service also proposes to bypass the suspect section of the conduit with part of the new replacement pipeline which is currently being constructed at a cost of £2·5 million. The bypass should be completed towards the end of next week. The Water Service is also cleaning all the service reservoirs in the area. This will be completed by Friday 8 September. Water sampling is ongoing in the distribution system.

The Water Service has followed risk assessment protocols based on national guidelines, and the associated testing regimes are fully in line with those required by regulations in England and Wales and by direction in Scotland. These arrangements have been agreed with the drinking water inspector and the chief medical officer. However, I am unable to give a categorical guarantee that the outbreak will not spread elsewhere. Cryptosporidiosis is ubiquitous in the community, is carried by many animals and some humans and can be spread, for example, through contact with animals.

What I can say is that the Water Service will do all in its power to prevent the spread of the disease through the public water supply.

Mr Taylor asked the Minister for Regional Development if he approves of the scheme to pump sewage from Crossgar into the sewage plant at Killyleagh; to outline how this scheme will reduce the capacity of Killyleagh sewerage plant; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 7/00)

Mr Campbell: I am satisfied that the scheme to transfer waste water from Crossgar for treatment at the Killyleagh works represents the optimum solution for the provision of enhanced treatment facilities for waste water from Crossgar. The scheme utilises some of the surplus capacity at the Killyleagh works, and there will still be sufficient capacity to cater for considerable additional housing and industrial development in the Killyleagh and Crossgar areas. The scheme is the most economic option available by a significant margin and provides environmental benefit to the Quoile River system. There will also be benefits to the treatment process at the Killyleagh works as it operates closer to its design capacity.

The Killyleagh works is currently operating at just over 30% capacity owing to the closure of the former tannery. In planning the scheme, account was taken of projected residential and industrial expansion in Crossgar and Killyleagh to the year 2021 on the basis of figures provided by the Planning Service. The projections allow for 350 additional houses at Crossgar and 335 additional houses at Killyleagh. After the transfer of the waste water from Crossgar, and taking account of this projected increase in housing, it is estimated that the Killyleagh works will be operating at around 70% of its design capacity in 2021. A further 1,000 houses in the area would bring the loading on the Killyleagh works to about 88% of its design capacity.

After the transfer of the waste water from Crossgar, there will remain very considerable surplus capacity at the Killyleagh Works to cope with further unforeseen residential and industrial development in both the Crossgar and the Killyleagh areas.