SIX members of the local angling fraternity met with Environment Minister Sammy Wilson last week.
The anglers were joined by local DUP MLA William McCrea in their bid to address the issue of the recent pollution and fish kill at the Ballymartin and Six Mile Water rivers.
Mr McCrea said the meeting continued with departmental officials for ove
r an hour and all the wealth of information gathered locally was fully discussed.
“This very serious pollution has deeply angered the community and the strength of feeling locally was made known,” Mr McCrea said.
He also demanded that resolute action be taken by the department not only in identifying the source of the pollution but that court proceedings are instituted to bring those responsible to justice.
Mr McCrea said the minister has also requested his officials contact the Lord Chief Justice to request firm sentencing of those found guilty of serious pollution.
He has also agreed to meet the anglers soon to continue the discussions surrounding continual pollution of this important stretch of water.
Meanwhile, the Green Party has said there are several immediate measures which the Department of the Environment must implement if it is to stop river pollution such as that which killed hundreds of fish on the Ballymartin River last week.
Green Party Assembly Member Brian Wilson said: “I have met with anglers and discussed their concerns about the all too frequent pollution incidents which regularly contaminate our rivers, drinking water, killing fish and wildlife along the way. However I fear that without an independent Environmental Protection Agency these incidents are set to continue as there appears to be no innovative thinking coming from the Department of the Environment.
“Our rivers form part of our drinking water system, so it is in everyone’s interest that our rivers are clean.”
