Ulster Unionist MLA Ross Hussey has welcomed the Northern Ireland Ombudsman’s recommendation that the Planning Service should pay a total of £30,000 compensation to three residents because of its failure to enforce Planning regulations at a gold mine in County Tyrone.
West Tyrone MLA Mr Hussey, who is also the current Vice Chair of Omagh District Council said:
“This has been an on-going battle for the residents for a long time. Questions were continually being asked of the DOE Planning Service in relation to compliance with the conditions of planning that seemed to be openly disregarded. I commend the residents for their steadfast refusal to be walked over and this payment vindicates their stand.
However it does leave the Planning Service with not only 'egg on their face' but a series of questions to be answered in relation to their failure to follow through when complaints were made to them. I will be asking a series of questions to the DOE Minister in this regard over the coming days.”