Alliance backs local daily newspapers' legal challenge to planning changes

10.53.54am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Oct 2006

Alliance Chief Whip, Kieran McCarthy

Alliance Party Chief Whip, Kieran McCarthy MLA, has backed a legal challenge from the three local daily newspapers to get a decision to stop publishing planning applications within them overturned. He stated that publication in the big local newspapers is vital to keep local people informed of important planning issues.

The Strangford Assembly Member stated: "I am very glad that the three big daily newspapers in Northern Ireland have launched a legal bid to get these planning changes overturned.

"These ridiculous changes must be stopped and I hope that common sense prevails.

"Its is of fundamental public interest that planning applications are published in local newspapers. People must be kept informed of key local issues like planning, so that they can have their say in the planning process.

"Openness and transparency in the planning process is extremely important. If publication of plans in the big daily newspapers is to stop, the people who will suffer are the general public, because information will be harder to come by."

ENDS