Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what plans he has to designate small streams in the Newtownabbey area, which are threatened by building developments, in order to protect their unique environmental contribution and eco-systems.

(AQW 769/01)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): None of the small streams in the Newtownabbey area have been identified as requiring national or international designation for nature conservation purposes. Nevertheless, these streams are currently afforded the same degree of protection as all waterways throughout Northern Ireland through the planning process and through the regulation of discharges that may impact on water quality.

My Department may, however, identify sections of some of these river corridors as Sites of Local Nature Conservation Importance or Local Landscape Policy Areas in the proposed Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP). A BMAP Issues Paper will be published on 7 December 2001. Public meetings will be held following its publication, providing an opportunity for Newtownabbey Borough Council, Environmental and Amenity Groups and members of the public to suggest those rivers and streams which should be protected because of their nature conservation value and landscape importance. Where such sites are identified, the BMAP will set out specific planning policies which will apply to development proposals on these sites.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what plans he has to protect further Larne Lough and surrounding coastline from insensitive developments and ongoing pollution.

(AQW 770/01)

Mr Foster: The coastline around Larne Lough was designated as a Countryside Policy Area (CPA) in the Larne Area Plan 2010. The strategic objectives of a CPA are to protect areas of countryside under pressure from development; to protect the visual amenity of areas of landscape quality; and to maintain the rural character of the countryside.

In recognition of the importance of this area, my Department also designated Larne Lough and Swan Island as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive. This Directive requires member states to take special measures to conserve the habitats of certain rare and migratory bird species.

My Department has also designated Larne Lough as a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance.

I am advised that the Department for Regional Development's Water Service has a number of sewage systems which discharge into Larne Lough and the coastal side of the Islandmagee Peninsula. The level of treatment at each discharge point varies.

There are 5 main outfalls, which discharge into Larne Lough (ie Glynn, Magheramorne, Ballycarry, Ballystrudder and Millbay). It is intended to divert the wastewater from Glynn and Magheramorne to the proposed new Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTWs) at Larne. The new Works is currently programmed to commence on site in June 2002 and will take 2 years to complete. The cost involved is £10 million.

At the Coastal Side of Islandmagee Peninsula there are 4 main outfalls which discharge into coastal waters to the East of the Islandmagee Peninsula (ie Ferris Bay, Browns Bay, Mullaghbuoy and Whitehead). The total cost of upgrading wastewater treatment facilities in Islandmagee is £2.8 million. Work will be carried out on a phased basis starting in 2002.

You may be interested to know that work has commenced on the preparation of an Area Plan covering the Antrim, Ballymena and Larne Districts. This will afford the opportunity to further consider issues concerned with the potential of Larne Lough and its surroundings.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to designate parts of Jordanstown as an area of townscape character, as previously identified by Newtownabbey Borough Council.[R]

(AQW 771/01)

Mr Foster: My Department is presently working on the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan BMAP, which will examine amongst other things, the issue of Built Heritage Protection.

The Team preparing the Plan has already received a large number of letters requesting the introduction of Planning Policies to protect the townscape character of the Jordanstown area.
Consultants have been appointed to consider and advise on the need to designate additional Areas of Townscape Character. This issue will also be raised in the BMAP Issues Paper, which is due to be published on 7 December 2001. The Issues Paper and the public meetings, which will be held following its publication, will provide an opportunity for those who wish to make representations regarding the need for additional Areas of Townscape Character.

The Draft BMAP is programmed to be published at the end of 2002. Any additional Areas of Townscape Character proposed for designation will be included in the Draft Plan. Following publication of the Draft Plan, 6 weeks will be allowed for the submission of objections. All unresolved objections submitted within the 6-week period will be considered at a Public Inquiry.

Inclusion of Areas of Townscape Character in the BMAP will ensure that the areas designated enjoy full statutory protection.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment who will monitor the progress of local district councils towards achieving the targets set by Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations.

(AQW 794/01)

Mr Foster: EC Regulation 2037/2000 provides for new controls on ozone depleting substances and is directly applicable to all Member States. However, Member States have also to establish in national legislation penalties for non-compliance and provide relevant agencies with powers of enforcement.

Article 16 of the Regulation deals with the recovery, recycling and reclamation and destruction of such substances. It does not set targets but requires that from 1 January 2002 such substances must be recovered for destruction using only approved technologies.

District councils will be required to take account of the new requirement in carrying out their waste activities, particularly their current practices in relation to the collection and disposal of domestic fridges. It is expected that compliance with the EU requirement will be regulated through the waste management licensing system. Under proposed new Waste Management Licensing Regulations, currently in preparation, my Department will become the regulatory authority.

Member States have also to establish enforcement procedures to deal with other aspects of the EC Regulation in relation to the importation, exportation, production, use and placing on the market of such substances.

Importation is a reserved matter and will be enforced by HM Customs and Excise. Decisions have yet to be taken on the appropriate bodies and mechanisms to enforce the other aspects. It is therefore not possible to say at this stage the role which district councils might play.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to detail any financial assistance that local district councils will receive to assist with implementing the "Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations".

(AQW 795/01)

Mr Foster: EC Regulation 2037/2000 provides for new controls on ozone depleting substances.

Article 16 of the Regulation provides that with effect from 1 January 2002 the recovery, recycling and reclamation and destruction of such substances may be undertaken using only approved technologies.

I know that a number of councils have concerns about how this requirement will affect their waste management activities, particularly their current practice in relation to the collection and disposal of domestic fridges. At the moment there are no facilities in the United Kingdom that are capable of removing such substances from the insulating foam of fridges. This means that district councils may be required to store such items for an indefinite period prior to disposal.

Two councils have already written to my Department about the financial implications arising from the new requirement. My officials are looking urgently at the matter to gauge the extent of the additional costs. I will thereafter wish to consider what action might be appropriate. There are no additional resources currently earmarked for this purpose.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment what action will be taken to preserve the unique character of Portstewart Promenade.

(AQW 847/01)

Mr Foster: The distinctive character of the Promenade derives more from a combination of the relationship of the street with the sea and the harbour and the orientation of the buildings on its eastern side, rather than any significant quality in the buildings. These are generally of limited quality, almost all having lost much of their detailing and character, especially during the 1960's and 1970's. As a result, the Promenade is not designated as a Conservation Area, nor does it have any listed buildings. The physical condition of some buildings is poor, and there is considerable obsolescence. Any residual character that remains in the terraces facing Portstewart Bay, is derived largely from the scale and rhythm created by individual buildings.

In approving a number of planning applications for redevelopment of major buildings along the Promenade over recent years, my Department has sought to ensure that proposals for replacement buildings are consistent in terms of height, roofs and proportions, and successfully integrate with existing properties.

While previous studies have concluded that the Promenade is unsuitable for Conservation Area protection, my Department will consider again what merit remains in the townscape of the Promenade under the forthcoming Northern Area Plan.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment what assessment he has made in relation to the on going destruction of built fabric along Portstewart Promenade.

(AQW 848/01)

Mr Foster: The distinctive character of the Promenade derives more from a combination of the relationship of the street with the sea and the harbour and the orientation of the buildings on its eastern side, rather than any significant quality in the buildings. These are generally of limited quality, almost all having lost much of their detailing and character, especially during the 1960's and 1970's. As a result, the Promenade is not designated as a Conservation Area, nor does it have any listed buildings. The physical condition of some buildings is poor, and there is considerable obsolescence. Any residual character that remains in the terraces facing Portstewart Bay, is derived largely from the scale and rhythm created by individual buildings.

In approving a number of planning applications for redevelopment of major buildings along the Promenade over recent years, my Department has sought to ensure that proposals for replacement buildings are consistent in terms of height, roofs and proportions, and successfully integrate with existing properties.

While previous studies have concluded that the Promenade is unsuitable for Conservation Area protection, my Department will consider again what merit remains in the townscape of the Promenade under the forthcoming Northern Area Plan.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment what progress has been made in the preparation of the Northern Area Plan.

(AQW 851/01)

Mr Foster: The preparation of the Northern Area Plan 2016 was announced in March of this year. Since that time work has been undertaken in relation to a number of key areas with the expectation that an "Issues Paper" will be published early in the new year, in line with the Development Plan Programme set out in the Planning Service's 2001-02 Corporate and Business Plan.

The work undertaken to date includes extensive consultation with statutory and other agencies. Retail surveys have also been conducted within Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Portrush, Portstewart and Dungiven. My Department also held a series of meetings in August-October of this year with the Chief Executives and councillors of the four local councils - Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle - to discuss the plan process, and to highlight issues that are of concern to councillors and the communities they represent.

In relation to community consultation, my Department has contracted Community Technical Aid (CTA), an independent voluntary organisation, to carry out the Community and Public consultation for the "Issues Stage" of the plan. This process is undertaken in two parts. The first part of the process has been completed and involved establishing contact with 856 community, voluntary and sports groups in the Northern Plan area to advise them of the impending process, and to encourage them to become involved in the consultation process, and to offer their views on the new plan.

Following this exercise a series of four community group briefing meetings were organised during October 2001, in Armoy, Garvagh, Limavady and Loughguile, to discuss matters to be addressed in the issues paper. CTA is to produce a report on this process, which is expected by mid December.

The second part of the consultation will follow the publication of the Issues Paper early in the new year. CTA is also contracted to carry out consultation on the equality obligations under Section 75 of the N I Act 1998.

Since the plan was announced earlier this year, Planning Service has received over 800 representations from the general public covering a wide range of subjects. These representations will form an important part of the consideration process.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment to detail all public participation to date in the preparation of the Northern Area Plan issues paper.

(AQW 852/01)

Mr Foster: The preparation of the Northern Area Plan 2016 was announced in March of this year. Since that time work has been undertaken in relation to a number of key areas with the expectation that an "Issues Paper" will be published early in the new year, in line with the Development Plan Programme set out in the Planning Service's 2001-02 Corporate and Business Plan.

The work undertaken to date includes extensive consultation with statutory and other agencies. Retail surveys have also been conducted within Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Ballycastle, Portrush, Portstewart and Dungiven. My Department also held a series of meetings in August-October of this year with the Chief Executives and councillors of the four local councils - Limavady, Coleraine, Ballymoney and Moyle - to discuss the plan process, and to highlight issues that are of concern to councillors and the communities they represent.

In relation to community consultation, my Department has contracted Community Technical Aid (CTA), an independent voluntary organisation, to carry out the Community and Public consultation for the "Issues Stage" of the plan. This process is undertaken in two parts. The first part of the process has been completed and involved establishing contact with 856 community, voluntary and sports groups in the Northern Plan area to advise them of the impending process, and to encourage them to become involved in the consultation process, and to offer their views on the new plan.

Following this exercise a series of four community group briefing meetings were organised during October 2001, in Armoy, Garvagh, Limavady and Loughguile, to discuss matters to be addressed in the issues paper. CTA is to produce a report on this process, which is expected by mid December.

The second part of the consultation will follow the publication of the Issues Paper early in the new year. CTA is also contracted to carry out consultation on the equality obligations under Section 75 of the N I Act 1998.

Since the plan was announced earlier this year, Planning Service has received over 800 representations from the general public covering a wide range of subjects. These representations will form an important part of the consideration process.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment what action is being taken to increase and promote household recycling measures.

(AQW 862/01)

Mr Foster: My Department's Waste Management Strategy sets demanding targets for the recycling of household waste by District Councils. The Waste Management Plans of District Councils will indicate how these targets will be met. Financial assistance is available from my Department towards preparing the Plans and further assistance will be provided for their implementation. The Plans will be subject to public consultation early in 2002 and, in order to promote an informed public debate, my Department is preparing public awareness and education campaigns, which will highlight, among other things, the need for recycling.

At present, my Department is providing assistance, through European grant-aid, to a number of projects involving the recycling of household waste. The Belfast-based charity Bryson House is receiving £140,000 towards a kerbside-recycling scheme currently being trialled over 7,500 homes in the Ards, Belfast and Castlereagh council areas.

Assistance is also being given to a company that collects and recycles plastic bottles and containers in a number of District Council areas. Two companies are receiving assistance in establishing materials recycling facilities, which will receive household waste, disposed of through skips.

A key aim of our Waste Management Strategy is to shift waste management practices towards increased re-use, recycling and recovery for all waste streams, including household and industrial waste. Glass, paper and plastic products make up a significant proportion of these waste sources.

Last August my Department published the findings of a Waste Arisings Survey for the year 1999 to 2000. The Survey found the household waste recovery rate (which includes composting) to be only 6.6%, equating to approx. 55,000 tonnes per annum. Of the materials collected paper/card accounted for 29% glass 9%, but the amount of plastics was negligible.

The Survey produced a poor return rate from the industrial and commercial waste sectors and therefore reliable recycling data for paper, glass and plastic from these sources are unavailable. My Department is currently organising a further survey to obtain more reliable data.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of the Environment what assessment he has made in relation to (i) the actual, and (ii) the potential level of recycling of glass, paper and plastic products.

(AQW 863/01)

Mr Foster: My Department's Waste Management Strategy sets demanding targets for the recycling of household waste by District Councils. The Waste Management Plans of District Councils will indicate how these targets will be met. Financial assistance is available from my Department towards preparing the Plans and further assistance will be provided for their implementation. The Plans will be subject to public consultation early in 2002 and, in order to promote an informed public debate, my Department is preparing public awareness and education campaigns, which will highlight, among other things, the need for recycling.

At present, my Department is providing assistance, through European grant-aid, to a number of projects involving the recycling of household waste. The Belfast-based charity Bryson House is receiving £140,000 towards a kerbside-recycling scheme currently being trialled over 7,500 homes in the Ards, Belfast and Castlereagh council areas.

Assistance is also being given to a company that collects and recycles plastic bottles and containers in a number of District Council areas. Two companies are receiving assistance in establishing materials recycling facilities, which will receive household waste, disposed of through skips.

A key aim of our Waste Management Strategy is to shift waste management practices towards increased re-use, recycling and recovery for all waste streams, including household and industrial waste. Glass, paper and plastic products make up a significant proportion of these waste sources.

Last August my Department published the findings of a Waste Arisings Survey for the year 1999 to 2000. The Survey found the household waste recovery rate (which includes composting) to be only 6.6%, equating to approx. 55,000 tonnes per annum. Of the materials collected paper/card accounted for 29% glass 9%, but the amount of plastics was negligible.

The Survey produced a poor return rate from the industrial and commercial waste sectors and therefore reliable recycling data for paper, glass and plastic from these sources are unavailable. My Department is currently organising a further survey to obtain more reliable data.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQW 667/01, to detail (a) the geographical area of the three Nitrate Vulnerable Zones in Northern Ireland, and (b) data from the groundwater and surface water monitoring network over the last 2 years.

(AQW 879/01)

Mr Foster: Two Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ), 11.5 km² and 0.5 km² respectively, are located between Comber and Newtownards, Co Down. A third NVZ, 3.8 km², lies to the west of Cloughmills in Co Antrim. The NVZs are shown in Maps 1, 2 and 3, copies of which are available in the Assembly Library.

Routine groundwater monitoring on a quarterly basis was established at a network of 78 points in 2000. Mean nitrate concentrations at these points are shown in Map 4.

Surface freshwater monitoring for nitrate has been carried out at 262 river and lake sites since the early 1990s. Sampling frequency has varied over the years but is monthly at present. Some 49 of these sites are the most downstream freshwater sampling points for major river catchments and have been declared as 'the monitoring network' to the European Commission.

Mean nitrate concentrations for the two-year period 1999/2000 for the 49 'major catchment' sites are shown in Map 5.

Mean nitrate concentrations for 1999/2000 for all the surface water sampling points are shown in Map 6.

Mr Mitchel McLaughlin asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to initiate a review of taxi licensing; and to make a statement.

(AQW 911/01)

Mr Foster: I have currently no plans to initiate a review of taxi licensing in Northern Ireland which is governed by the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.

While I believe there would be value in beginning work to bring the regulatory arrangements for taxis up to date, this would have resource implications for my Department. I have bid for the additional resources necessary to carry out such a review but have not yet been successful.

I have also considered whether the resources needed could be reallocated from other parts of my Department. I have had to conclude that this is not currently possible given other pressures and priorities, not least in pursuing PfG and PSA commitments and in meeting national and international, including EU, obligations.

I will, of course, continue to keep this option under review.