No one should be above the planning process, says Nelson

Alliance Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson has said that no one should be above the planning process, after the announcement of the council’s decision around enforcement of planning rules in the erection of a statue dedicated to Bobby Sands on public land in west Belfast without appropriate permission being sought.

Belfast City Council Sam Nelson

Cllr Nelson has said: “The planning process exists for a reason, and no one should be above it.

 

“The unregulated display of flags, symbols, murals and statues without due process remains a problem here. Rules around the use of public land must be followed in all cases and decisions around enforcement must be applied equally right across the board, or we risk undermining public confidence in that process.

 

“We must have a planning system that is fair and that people have faith in. Whilst we seek clarity around how authorities came to this particular decision, Alliance will continue working to ensure better regulation of flags, murals, emblems and memorials in our city.”