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Campaign group Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment (RARE) have written a letter to local political figures, Government departments and Council officials along well as the Audit Office to highlight what they say are "multiple examples of “Fraud Risks/Red Flags" in regards to the in-progress Defra Inspection Facility near Warrenpoint.
The Designated Point of Entry facility at Warrenpoint Port is being built for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) checks required for imports into Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit.
The footprint of the building is one of the largest in the area. In the letter a RARE spokesperson said "This gigantic building, totally out of character with the surrounding area in terms of scale, appearance and purpose, rises near the proposed landing point of the Narrow Water Bridge, in clear view of the Mourne Coastal Route but, ironically, due to elevation and mass, blocking views of the Mourne Coast."
Explaining the letter the RARE spokesperson said "Our letter is informed and guided by two NIAO publications, “Good Practice Guide” and “ Planning Fraud Risks Guide - the latter with the stated aim to “to raise awareness across local government about what planning fraud might look like”.
"The purpose of our letter is to reveal and illustrate our discovery of multiple examples of “Fraud Risks/Red Flags” warnings of “what planning fraud might look like” in a Report which was authored by DAERA, on 16th November 2020, for a Defra Inspection Facility near Warrenpoint."
They continued "According to DAERA, this report was completed 'based on the best available information, to inform the Competent Authority, Newry Mourne and Down District Council, of the potential for a likely significant effect on European sites from the construction and operation of the proposed development, as required by Regulation 43 (1) of the Habitats Regulations.' Unfortunately, it would appear that the 'best available information' did not include the benefits of a site visit - nor, it would seem, the ability to read an online map."
RARE point out the reports states “The site is located within an area of industrial land adjacent to the Newry canal” something they say betrays an alarming denial of the fact that the site is bordered on three sides by a scenic coastal route, open green spaces and protected waters. "As for the 'adjacent' Newry Canal, that historic waterway is, like the Report, miles away." they add.
"On 16/11/20, the same day as the Report was authored, the Council granted “permitted development” to Defra for a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Facilities Shed."
The letter states "The monster shed is currently under construction, without the benefit of planning permission, amidst scenes of environmental vandalism, near Narrow Water, on lands which are owned, leased or occupied by Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA), in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), adjacent to highly protected areas of rich and vulnerable habitat.
"It is our belief that Defra, with a stated mission “to restore and improve the environment for future generations, leaving it in a better state than it was found” and DAERA, (author of the Report), should, upon examination of the evidence provided in this letter, call for an immediate cessation of work on the Defra site"
"Furthermore, we believe that the Competent Authority, NMDDC (already conducting a live enforcement case on the site for breach of planning conditions by Defra) and the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) should move swiftly to call in any decision supported by what is demonstrably misleading and/or potentially fraudulent information."
The letter was written to: Minister O’Dowd (DfI), Minister Muir (DAERA), Minister Lyons (DfC), Minister Murphy (DfE), Ms Ward (CEO Newry, Mourne and Down District Council / NMDDC), representatives of Defra’s “SPS Facilities Project” and representatives of the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO).
