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Foster 'in Sweeney distance move' Causeway centre proposal rejected
(about 5 hours later)
The environment minister intends to distance herself from an application for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway, Sinn Fein has said. Environment Minister Arlene Foster has refused a developer's application for a privately funded visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway.
Developer Seymour Sweeney, who has been embroiled in controversy over links with Ian Paisley Jr, wants to build a visitors' centre at the UNESCO site. Mrs Foster told the assembly that she saw some merits in Seymour Sweeney's proposal.
Last year, DUP minister Arlene Foster said she had been "minded" to accept the developer's application. But she said that she had to turn it down on planning grounds.
However, according to SF's Daithi McKay this is no longer the case. "I am convinced that the proposal, as it stands, would have an adverse impact on the World Heritage Site," said Mrs Foster.
The comments made by Mr McKay, who sits on the environment committee, follow speculation the minister will make a statement on the issue to the Northern Ireland Assembly. "I believe it could adversely affect the character of the area.
"There are serious doubts that the proposed development would adequately integrate into the landscape and it would add to the spread of development at this sensitive location."
The Causeway attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year.
The previous visitors' centre on the site burned down in April 2000.
Renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt - resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago - it is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.