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Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has urged the Infrastructure Minister, Nicola Mallon to immediately withdraw guidance recently issued to Councils regarding future countryside planning and to meaningfully engage with local councils over the very real concerns of people in rural communities on its potential impact.
Mr Boylan was speaking ahead of a Sinn Féin public meeting which is taking place on Tuesday 19th October at 8pm in Ballymacnab Community Hall.
Cathal Boylan said "Recently, councils have received new guidance from the Department for Infrastructure regarding rural planning.
"Concerns have been raised that this new guidance could make it even more difficult for people to get planning permission to build in the countryside.
“Sinn Féin have called on Minister Mallon to withdraw the guidance issued by her department and to meaningfully engage with local councils over the very real concerns of people in rural communities.
"People who want to live in the local communities in which they have grown up are already finding it very difficult to get planning approval for houses.
“The Planning system must be sustainable however this new guidance is causing real concerns, particularly for younger people and families, in rural communities. It is vital that the planning system works for our rural communities."
