Éirígí Calls For Real Public Transport Investment
Éirígí have grave concerns over possible moves within the Six-County assembly to allow public transport be abused by greedy property developers.
Recently the Six County Assembly environment minister, Arlene Foster of the DUP, has seen fit to give lucrative contracts to property developer and fellow DUP member, Seymour Sweeney, including plans to sell off the world heritage site at the Giant’s Causeway. There has now been a broad welcome from the assembly parties for similar plans for big business to benefit from public transport projects.
The Kilbride Group, which is responsible for the deal, is a property development company that now seeks to gain exclusive development rights in rural communities in return for reopening disused railway lines. The company then charges a premium to homebuyers to offset the costs of developing the rail line, hiking up the costs of housing. This mechanism to gain planning approval for massive housing developments is a stated objective of the company and has been used across Britain by the Scottish based group.
As other political parties gave a warm welcome to proposals by the Kilbride Group to reopen the Antrim Branch railway line between Lisburn and Antrim, Éirígí spokesperson, Daithí Mac An Mháistír expressed serious concern over the proposed direction of the initiative.
“The Six County Assembly seems to be sleepwalking into a situation of being exploited, yet again, by big money developers in return for an abuse of public programmes.”
Daithí continued,
“While it is unclear if the parties administering British Rule in the Six Counties are unaware of the Kilbride Group’s background or they simply don’t care, we in Éirígí will strongly oppose any private exploitation of public services.”
“The Kilbride Group is buying off the Six County executive with a re-opened railway line in return for exclusive planning permissions for massive housing developments in the countryside. We in Éirígí have an absolute belief in public ownership and development of transport policy, free from interference by big business, along with a commitment to preserving our rural communities.”
“Transport policy should be directed solely for public good and benefit. The fact that the Six County executive has even considered this important area being driven by unscrupulous developers is yet another demonstration of the failings of the six county state and institutions.”
“Éirígí fully supports the development of environmentally sound public transport projects throughout Ireland and recognises that the closing of the Antrim Branch railway line was short-sighted and needs to be rectified. However, allowing property developers to drive transport policy is not the answer. This decision is also a further worrying sign about the direction in which the Stormont coalition intends to go.”