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Photo credit: PILS

“Our fight goes on”: judicial review joint statement

Published: August 31, 2023

Following the 31 August judicial review decision, Friends of the Earth NI and No Gas Caverns have issued a joint statement.


James Orr, Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland:

“This is an incredibly disappointing judgement for our environment and the local community who have fought so tirelessly against this hugely destructive scheme.

This project will have a devastating impact on the local environment and wildlife, and significantly increase Northern Ireland’s contribution to the climate crisis.

But the campaign against these gas caverns is far from over. Our lawyers will carefully consider this judgement before deciding our next steps against this reckless development.

The companies behind this project are on the wrong side of history. In the midst of a climate emergency, we should be seizing the huge economic benefits that come from focussing on energy efficiency and renewable power – not prioritising more costly and polluting fossil fuel developments.”

***

No Gas Caverns campaign group:

“We are disappointed with today’s judgement however, the Marine Licence issue is just the first of many statutory consents required to deliver the project.

Nature should not be held to ransom by fossil fuel companies. We have not lost on the fact we still care about where we live.

Therefore our fight goes on!”

Today was a disappointing judgement for our environment and local community who have fought tirelessly against the gas caverns. Our campaign against these gas caverns is far from over. Lawyers are carefully considering the judgement before deciding on our next steps #nogascaverns pic.twitter.com/OHqtJaOghW

— Friends of the Earth NI (@foe_ni) August 31, 2023

The PILS Project’s reaction:

There is a clear public interest element to the No Gas Caverns legal challenge.

Every member of the public deserves to have peace of mind that decisions around major infrastructure projects are made properly, fairly and lawfully. This is arguably even more important when it comes to storing fossil fuels at a time when the global climate crisis requires a drastic move away from carbon-laden sources of energy.

That is what judicial reviews, taken in the public interest, are all about.

PILS are proud to support the Islandmagee community to use the legal tools at their disposal to scrutinise decision-making around these unwanted caverns.

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