How To Object
Q Blog Water
Mapping Blue-green algae
This map on the ARCGIS website shows the locations where blue-green algae is present in Northern Ireland waterways. Currently this amounts to 290 reports of water polluted across the country. Blue-green [...]
reAD MORE
Blue Green Algae Q Blog Sewer Overflows WwTW
Storm Overflows
Storm Overflows and Northern Ireland Water: Understanding the Impacts Storm overflows, also known as Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), are designed as emergency release valves in wastewater systems, venting untreated sewage with [...]
reAD MORE
Flooding LCCC Planners Q Blog Water
LCCC’s Denials Defy Reality
Flooding on Quarterlands Road: LCCC’s Denial Defies Reality As Quarterlands Road continues to be aware of escalating floods, the disbelief from residents grows. This past weekend, November 23-24, 2024, saw yet [...]
reAD MORE
Biodiversity Hedgerow News Q Blog
The Hawthorn Hedge
…and why it is important The Hawthorn Hedgerow is Crucial to Our Environment The central Hawthorn hedgerow at Quarterlands is more than just a line of trees and shrubs; it is [...]
reAD MORE
Q Blog Water
The River Valley
The Red Dot Shows Drumbeg. Planners seem unable to face the fact that all water, dirty or clean, connected with the proposed development site is located in the Lagan river valley [...]
reAD MORE
Flooding Q Blog Water
Pollution in the River Lagan: A Threat to Lagan Valley Regional Park and Belfast Lough
The River Lagan, the spine of the Lagan Valley Regional Park (LVRP), faces significant pollution threats from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and pumping stations. These sources discharge untreated wastewater directly into [...]
reAD MORE
LCCC Planners News Planning Portal Q Blog WwTW
Codes of Practice – Questions?
Summary of Preliminary Observations Regarding NI Water’s Response to LCCC This letter highlights concerns regarding NI Water’s adherence to the British Water’s Code of Practice for sewage treatment systems specifically at [...]
reAD MORE
Uncategorized
Three Minutes Revised
Our Speaking Notes & Supplementary Information Three Minutes is the total amount of time we were allocated to present all this difficult and detailed information to the Planning Committee. Below are [...]
reAD MOREWhat’s Happening
Developers want to develop.
Their plans are to build many houses and hotels, carparks and roads in the middle of Our Lagan Valley Regional Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and SLNCI and Northern Irelands ONLY designated Regional Park. Destroying the green spaces we cherish. Due care and attention has not been paid to the Biodiversity and Infrastructure of our environment and we are therefore raising strong objection.
Putting more pressure on our already overloaded sewerage system and roads. With minimal public transport no local shops or schools this area needs care and investment.
This is the most recent of very many developments suggested for this area. The planning portal is broken. Objections are taking months to show there or are not showing at all and in the meantime the ‘planning process’ goes on. If we don’t speak up we will all lose what we all treasure and the green belt will be a sea of 1980s style houses and a barren desert bereft of wildlife.
[hit play button above mouseover the video and click expand screen icon to view]
Latest News and Stories
About this development the Lagan Valley Regional Park, Drumbeg and the State of Nature.
On page 53 of our Q5 document you can see the future –
Proposal drawings for developments of hundreds of houses in the lands beside this little development.
Flooding Q Blog Sewer Overflows Water
Which bodies are responsible for sewage spills in NI?
The ultimate responsibility for allowing sewage on streets lies with a combination of organizations, regulatory bodies, and governmental authorities. Determining accountability requires [...]
read more
10
Dec
Dec
Q Blog Sewer Overflows Uncategorized Water WwTW
River Lagan Foul Sewage Discharges
River Lagan Foul Sewage Discharges and the Planning Crisis in Drumbeg This week’s Spotlight programme (BBC One) exposed the extent of untreated [...]
read more
07
Dec
Dec
Q Blog Sewer Overflows WwTW
Sewage and the River Lagan
Sewage and the River Lagan: A Crisis in the Making This is no longer a crisis “in the making”—it’s a full-blown environmental [...]
read more
06
Dec
Dec
Q Blog
Urgent Need for Transparency in Planning Process
We repeatedly asked for guidance on planning – we could only object on planning grounds. The problem is no one would tell [...]
read more
03
Dec
Dec
Q Blog
Infrastructure in Crisis: Quarterlands Road Development Impact
Drumbeg’s infrastructure is already strained. Roads, schools, and sewage systems cannot handle more development without collapsing. We’re rallying to stop further overload—please [...]
read more
28
Nov
Nov
Flooding LCCC Planners Q Blog Water
LCCC’s Denials Defy Reality
Flooding on Quarterlands Road: LCCC’s Denial Defies Reality As Quarterlands Road continues to be aware of escalating floods, the disbelief from residents [...]
read more
26
Nov
Nov
WHERE IS THIS
This what3words address refers to a 3 metre square location in the middle of our Hawthorn Hedge. Tap the link below or enter the 3 words ///clock.cool.actor into the free what3words app to find it. (once there try clicking the satellite view)
HAWTHORN HEDGE 2024
67+ Protected Species 21+ Priority Protected Species resident in and around a proposed building site along the Quarterlands Road in the Lagan Valley Regional Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Site of Local Nature Conservation in Northern Ireland on the outskirts of Belfast. All the photographs and videos were taken by residents in and around the site.
See how exotic and marvellous the nature we have all around us is?
Don’t Bulldoze Our Biodiversity –
Videos by residents with ambient sound.
Photographs by residents with music.
HERE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD SOME OF THE OBJECTIONs submitted by the QUARTERLANDS GROUP Since JAN 2022
Q1 (Quarterlands 1) : We researched many aspects of planning in the Lagan Valley Regional Park and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and have submitted these documents to the planning authority. This became known as Q1 (Quarterlands 1) or The Big Document.
Q2: The developers lodged a rebuttal document which you can see on the planning portal, Q2 is our response to their rebuttal. It also contains interesting maps showing the designation of land over time and asks about Lagan Valley Regional Park, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty being changed and zoned?.
Q3: In March 2023 the developers lodged more drawings with the planning office showing further changes to the boundary planting. The removal of part of the green at Hambleden Park and the movement of houses to facilitate further vehicle access to the land beyond the site. So we wrote Q3 in answer.
Q4: In November 2023 the developer submitted an ‘ecological report’ This is our response. Submitted to LCCC Planners 1.4.24.
Q5: In November/ December 2023 the developers lodged hundreds more pages on the Planning Portal. We read and responded to particularly the Ecological Appraisal Report our Q4. The Developers Rebuttal to our points, we understand to have been written by a KC our Q5.
Quick Q is the bullet point summary of our objections before the Committee Meeting Feb 2024.
Q6: In February 2024 we also drew attention to questions involving human rights, equality impact assessment and serious concerns about procedure.
Documents We have researched and written
33 Months on…
We have been surprised and disappointed by the lack of care for our community. The [...]
learn more
Short Form: Main Objections August 2024
Update: There are currently over 400 letters of objection from individual residents in the area [...]
learn more
Concerns Over Planning Application Process
Section 43 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014 Dear Community, We wish to express [...]
learn more
Footways and Footpaths, accidents by design??
Concerns on Proposed Development Site Design: Key Safety Points 1. PSD Maps for Review: Attached [...]
learn more
FOI: re PDE further concerns
As we continue to navigate the intricacies of development application LA05/2022/0033/F, we wanted to bring [...]
learn more
About
What We Want
No More Building in Lagan Valley Regional Park
Without
Transparent Community Consultation
Proper and clear information to all residents affected by the developments.
Full Regard for Climate Change
All construction to be planned and completed in line with current technologies in light of climate change. Heating, water usage, insulation, transport etc.
Improved Infrastructure
Changes and upgrades to water, power transport should be covered in part by all new developments as they occur for the resident community and the wider planet.
Protection of our Environment
Protection of biodiversity, species and habitats to be at the heart of ALL developments.
Don’t Bulldoze Our Biodiversity
About Quarterlands.com
We are Quarterlands Group and have as our aim protecting the Lagan Valley Regional Park by conserving Heritage Hedgerows and grasslands at Quarterlands Road to promote a healthy environment and biodiversity.
We are a voluntary group of concerned locals and others with an interest in conserving the LVRP with no financial interest in the matter in which they seek to influence planners.
We have created this website so that other voluntary groups are able to benefit from the work we undertake in this area of LVRP.
Where it began..
In Dec 2021 another developer dropped another planning application to the planners at LCCC.
In late January 2022 the notification landed on a handful of local doormats. With less than a week to respond to the application one of our number asked friends and neighbours what they thought. None of them had heard about it. A group of us got together on Zoom to talk about it and decided that we needed to find out more.
Quarterlands.com is part of the finding out. We’d like to know what you think and to ask for your support to challenge the flurry of applications and building projects in the area.
We live in Lagan Valley Regional Park, in an area of outstanding natural beauty and we genuinely fear that we will lose what makes this such a lovely place to live if we don’t challenge.
Quarterlands Videos
All taken in and around the proposed site.
If you are on an Accidental Activist journey Like ours
See this post in our Q BLOG
OUR LEAFLET
Some of our group have been sharing this leaflet in the area to tell more of our friends and neighbours about what’s happening here.
Our Leaflet
Latest News and Stories
About this development the Lagan Valley Regional Park, Drumbeg and the State of Nature.
Flooding Q Blog Sewer Overflows Water
Which bodies are responsible for sewage spills in NI?
The ultimate responsibility for allowing sewage on streets lies with a combination of organizations, regulatory bodies, and governmental authorities. Determining accountability [...]
read more
10
Dec
Dec
Q Blog Sewer Overflows Uncategorized Water WwTW
River Lagan Foul Sewage Discharges
River Lagan Foul Sewage Discharges and the Planning Crisis in Drumbeg This week’s Spotlight programme (BBC One) exposed the extent of [...]
read more
07
Dec
Dec
Q Blog Sewer Overflows WwTW
Sewage and the River Lagan
Sewage and the River Lagan: A Crisis in the Making This is no longer a crisis “in the making”—it’s a full-blown [...]
read more
06
Dec
Dec
Q Blog
Urgent Need for Transparency in Planning Process
We repeatedly asked for guidance on planning – we could only object on planning grounds. The problem is no one would [...]
read more
03
Dec
Dec
Q Blog
Infrastructure in Crisis: Quarterlands Road Development Impact
Drumbeg’s infrastructure is already strained. Roads, schools, and sewage systems cannot handle more development without collapsing. We’re rallying to stop further [...]
read more
28
Nov
Nov
Flooding LCCC Planners Q Blog Water
LCCC’s Denials Defy Reality
Flooding on Quarterlands Road: LCCC’s Denial Defies Reality As Quarterlands Road continues to be aware of escalating floods, the disbelief from [...]
read more
26
Nov
Nov
Q Blog
Quarterlands Development Threatens Rural Character
The proposed development at Quarterlands Road disrupts Drumbeg’s rural heritage. With no local amenities, residents face increased traffic, pollution, and strain [...]
read more
25
Nov
Nov
Biodiversity LVRP Q Blog
Why Protecting Lagan Valley Regional Park Matters
The proposed development would harm Lagan Valley Regional Park, a vital ecosystem and recreational space for locals. Our countryside deserves preservation, [...]
read more
21
Nov
Nov
Why Get Involved?
We have the privilege of the Lagan Valley Regional Park an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Our biodiversity is rich. We have rare plants and animals, we have green spaces and watercourses which need our protection. Our infrastructure is in need of improvement. Our local amenities need to exist. We can see that developers are profiting and fear that local planning authorities may not be fully considering the whole picture.
If we don’t raise awareness and voices to protect and improve the area we will lose it for ourselves and the generations to come as it will simply continue to be built over.
What to do
How To Object
1
Write a Letter explaining your concerns to the planning authority.
Write your objection.
Quote the planning number
LA05/2022/0033/F
Email to Planning2
Sign the Petiton
Click Here and Sign on Change.org
Click me!Don’t Bulldoze Our Biodiversity
Quarterlands Group are residents of Lagan Valley Regional Park an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty south of Belfast.
We have rare plants and animals, we have green spaces and watercourses which need our protection. We can all see developers building across the park and zoning changes in what were once green belt areas. Profits are being made from our wild spaces, species are being harmed and lost. Environmental pressures from climate change are being dodged and we fear that local planning authorities may be missing the point.
We need to make our voices heard to protect what we have for ourselves and for future generations.
Please sign the petition and stand with your friends and neighbours to call a halt and a rethink.
3
Make Calls or Send emails
Our elected representatives should hear your thoughts on these matters.
Send copies of your objections to
MP
Emma Little-Pengelly –
emma.little-pengelly@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
MLAs
Robbie Butler (UUP) – robbie.butler@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Sorcha Eastwood (ALL) – sorcha.eastwood@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Paul Givan (DUP) – paul.givan@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
David Honeyford (ALL) – david.honeyford@mla.niassembly.gov.uk
Councillors
Andrew Gowan (DUP) – andrew.gowan@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Uel Mackin (DUP) – uel.mackin@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Aaron McIntyre (ALL) – aaron.mcintyre@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
Kurtis Dickson (ALL) – kurtis.dickson@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
James Baird (UUP) – james.baird@lisburncastlereagh.gov.uk
4
Visit the NI Direct Planning Portal and register your objection.
Copy and Paste this planning number to find all the documents and register your objection.
LA05/2022/0033/F
PLANNING PORTAL