Ford welcomes closure of landfill

10.42.00pm GMT Tue 16th Dec 2008

The Alliance team is glad that Hightown landfill has been closed. Picture © 2008 Kilconriola Press

Alliance South Antrim MLA David Ford has welcomed the closure of the Hightown landfill on the Newtownabbey / North Belfast border. Closure took place following action taken by the Department of the Environment after David Ford referred complaints from local people to the DOE.

David Ford MLA said: "I welcome the fact that the Environment Agency of the DOE has taken action against this landfill and that the site has now been closed.

"Local people complained to me that they felt the landfill was growing too big and was no longer just infilling an old quarry. I referred the matter to the Planning Service and the Environment Agency, as they are the experts with responsibility to control the size and contents of a dump.

"I am glad that after many months the Environment Agency has taken action and the landfill is to be closed. This will be greatly welcomed by the people of the Hightown area."