West Tyrone Sinn Fein Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Anger as Shooting range approval proposed.

Published: 24 February, 2010

There is outrage in Drumquin after Planning Service have recommended an approval to a shooting range in the kirlish area of the village. The application will come before the planning meeting of Omagh District Council on Monday evening with a proposed approval for the application despite objections of local people and community representatives. This has been expressed by 75 local objections from residents who live in close proximity to the proposed firing range and by 7 petitions against the plan. In addition to this local residents met with Sammy Wilson regarding the proposal.

A similar application for a shooting range a number of years ago was rejected by the planning service.

Speaking before Monday nights planning meeting Sinn Féin councillor for the area Frankie Donnelly said:

"We will be objecting to the application at the meeting on Monday. We will be standing behind the local community who remain adamantly opposed to this shooting range. The local community has expressed their objection to the plans through petitions and even lobbying Sammy Wilson, who was the relevant minter at the time. However it seems all of this has been to no avail.

"The local MP Pat Doherty has assured me that he will be in touch with Planning Service to request a meeting with them at the earliest convenience on this issue. The local community cannot be ignored by the planning service.

"It must be remembered that this proposal for a shooting range dealt with before. It was rejected a number of years ago and there is nothing new in this latest application that should change the ruling that was made then.

"Such a facility will have huge and detrimental consequences for the community. There are obvious potential dangers for not only local livestock but also members of the local community. We will continue to resist this application and aim to ensure that it is once again rejected as it has been in the past number of years.