Remember this?
After this week's good news (see here) about the International Maritime Organisation's decision to ban ships from discharging nasty sticky substance polyisobutylene (PIB), can you cope with more good news?
Well, the Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Mark Durkan MLA, has just announced that the much loathed Planning Bill is effectively dead. The original proposals would have swept away various environmental safeguards and removed the right of people to comment on contentious proposals. As my colleague, Simon Marsh, reported yesterday, legal advice that we had and which the NI Government received confirmed that proposals would contravene the European Convention on Human Rights. In a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Minister said...
I intend to continue to make prompt and sound planning decisions and through the development of a SPPS to create a Planning System that is fast, fair and fit for purpose. One that delivers for business - but not at the expense of our planet or our people. As Environment Minister I want to help create a better environment AND a stronger economy – regrettably, this Bill as it stands does neither.
As with the ban on PIB discharge, this decision follows a rapid campaign from many NGOs (including the RSPB) and support from members of the public (this time 7,000 who supported the Amend the Bill campaign). At no point did campaigners give up and, for the second time in a week, we have been pleasantly surprised by the result.
I wonder what tomorrow will bring?