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Anger over Sammy Wilson’s skyscraper comments
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
enlargeAn attack by Environment Minister Sammy Wilson on his own planning officials was criticised last night by civil service union Nipsa.
Mr Wilson rounded on DoE planners over a refusal decision for what would have been been the tallest building in Belfast.
The verdict on the Aurora project, tabled by Ballycastle company McAlister Holdings, related to its impact on the surrounding neighbourhood in Great Victoria Street.
Mr Wilson said: “Planning officers have a role to play in kick-starting the economy and in this case they have failed and failed abysmally.”
Paddy Mackel of the public sector union Nipsa last night expressed his “shock” at the criticism from Minister Wilson.
He said that planning decisions are taken independently by officials in line with established procedures.
McAlister Holdings is expected to challenge the refusal through the Planning Appeals Commission.
Belfast City Council’s planning committee — which numbers Mr Wilson among its members — has asked DoE planning chiefs to re-examine the case.
Mr Mackel said the minister should either apologise or clarify that he was not accusing officials of failing to follow procedure.
“We do not expect the minister to undermine the position of our members and his staff in the department,” he added.
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Paddy Mackel is a good singer but his brother. Ciaran, is exquisit.
Posted by Tiarnan Mackel(Paddys son) | 24.01.09, 22:53 GMT
I notice the civil servant's comments were posted at 12.08 GMT today. Another 'sickie', one of their many annual leave days or using the office pc ?
Posted by Nigel Cooke | 13.01.09, 14:35 GMT
Another appaling decision by Planning Service (PS). As a Civil Servant, in the DOE, I have no problem with Sammy's comments and, if I worked in PS I would not take them as a slur on my professionalism. I think Mr Mackel needs to concentrate more on the real issues facing us Civil Servants, we can take criticism you know. It's time this city fully joined the rest of the modern world and stopped hanging onto provincialism (Planners take note). This building would most certainly add to our growing image as a vibrant and must see destination.
Posted by STM | 13.01.09, 12:08 GMT