Mid Ulster District Council swiftly dismissed a request from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to provide money towards paying consultants to review environmental evidence of the Dalradian project.

Chris Boomer, former Head of Planning at Mid Ulster Council, wrote to the members of his Council's planning committee in 2021, arguing that it would not provide value for money and that the necessary environmental oversight was already in place.

In the memo, seen by The Impartial Reporter, Dr. Boomer stressed that "the notion that the [Dalradian] environmental report will not be audited independently" is "not the case". He maintained that existing government departments and agencies would handle the process.

"It is the Department's responsibility to undertake that audit, and they are already consulting with the relevant authorities on a range of matters," he said. Dr. Boomer expressed confidence that professional bodies, such as the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), would provide appropriate guidance regarding the environmental impact, including potential pollution, effects on habitats, and protected species. He added that a habitats assessment would still need to be conducted by a competent authority, ensuring further oversight.

Dr. Boomer also pointed out that the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) would be monitored by the relevant authorities, which would provide an independent evaluation of the landscape's impact. He added that Historic Building Division is also expected to offer expert advice on archaeological matters, a point supported by their recent involvement in a public inquiry about a wind farm development at Dorraville. During that inquiry, he said they echoed the Council's concerns about the wind farm's potential harm to the Beaghmore stone circles and surrounding archaeological sites.

Mr. Boomer also addressed concerns raised by local communities, many of whom suspect a conspiracy between developers and the government to allow certain developments to proceed unchecked. However, he dismissed this notion, stating that he had no reason to believe that officers across government departments would provide anything but honest and professional advice.

"Whilst the Department of Economy has actively promoted mining in relation to the economy, I see no evidence that professional advice would be compromised," Dr. Boomer stated.

He added that a public examination would allow for further scrutiny of any proposals, and that spending such a large sum on consultants would fail to offer value for the wider public in Ulster. He noted that many local authorities are currently under financial pressure, making it difficult to justify such an expense.

Dr. Boomer also expressed concern that hiring consultants could create unrealistic expectations for objectors, implying that the Council may adopt similar approaches for all regionally significant proposals, which he argued would not be feasible.

Instead, Mr. Boomer recommended that the Council work closely with Fermanagh and Omagh councils to identify areas of mutual concern. He suggested setting up a shared working group, including officers from planning, environmental health, and tourism, to address specific areas, such as toxicity and hydrology. While acknowledging that some specialist advice may be required in certain instances, Mr. Boomer indicated that this should be addressed through more focused consultations as needed.

"The idea of a working party will ensure we can engage in proper scrutiny without the need for excessive spending on external consultants," he concluded.