CAMPAIGNERS backed by the writer of Derry Girls have launched a petition against the building of four luxury homes by a patch of ancient woodland.
Planning permission has been granted for the homes to be built on a field at the edge of Prehen Wood outside Derry – the only area of ancient oak woodland remaining in the city.
The wood is home to protected bluebells, a colony of endangered red squirrels and other animals including badgers, foxes, bats and Long Eared Owls.
The development was first granted permission by the former Department of the Environment (DoE) in 2007.
Part of the planning permission was revoked in 2013 although the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) later overturned this decision.
The campaign against the development, launched by Prehen Historical and Environmental Society, has been backed by supporters including Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee, naturalist Chris Packham, U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr and Dame Judi Dench.
More than 17,000 people have signed an online petition opposed to the new luxury homes.
Mr Packham urged people to sign the petition.
“We must preserve space, green space for the benefit of future generations, space which benefits our physical and mental health, space to ensure that we can retain the functional ecosystems we rely upon to produce our food and other resources,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Derry City and Strabane District Council said: “While the department retains reserved powers in respect of revocation under section 72 of the 2011 Planning Act, the council sought clarification from the Department on whether it intended to use its reserved powers in this case.
“However, the minister indicated that it had no plans to take further action and as a result on September 5 2018 council’s planning committee agreed to follow the recommendation of the PAC and take no further action”.
She added that since taking responsibility for planning the council has “not approved any planning application or has any current applications for housing developments on Prehen Wood”.
