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Alliance Environment Spokesperson John Blair MLA has cautioned against lighting fires on private property, due to the unknown impact excess pollution could have on those self-isolating nearby.

With recycling centres closed and people enjoying the better weather, the MLA for South Antrim has raised the issue directly with the Environment Minister, asking guidance to be published as soon as possible.

He said: “It is fantastic to see that the majority of people are taking this situation seriously and staying at home. Yet with that come a number of issues that we have previously never had to deal with – including an increase in people lighting fires in their gardens.

“While this might seem like a quick and effective way to get rid of excess waste, it does impact on others and I would urge everyone to stop and think about the long term implications of these actions.

“The climate change crisis hasn’t simply gone away because society is staying at home and the result of these fires has already recorded increased pollution in some towns across Northern Ireland – having a direct impact on the health of people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

“With the added concerns around how this will impact those with Covid-19 symptoms and given that Councils in England and Scotland have already introduced measures to combat this issue, I would hope that DAERA is considering similar action either as directive from the department, or as clear guidance for how local Councils should move forward on this issue.

“We must all stay home to save lives, so while at home let’s ensure together that all our actions ensure a safe society moving forward.”

Local guidelines relating to people with autism or learning disabilities being able to leave their homes more than once a day to exercise during the COVID-19 lockdown need to be updated to reflect UK Government advice, Alliance MLA John Blair has said.

Mr Blair was speaking after raising the issue at today’s meeting of the Policing Board. It follows the UK Government amending its guidance on the lockdown, stating people with autism and learning disabilities can now leave the house for exercise more than once a day, as well as travelling outside their immediate area to do so, and being accompanied by a carer or support worker if needed.

However, the Autism NI charity has said a number of families of those with autism have been stopped by PSNI officers while out and told to return home.

“The UK Government’s new guidance is welcome and I know it is appreciated by many of those families of those with autism,” said Mr Blair.

“But from the reports from Autism NI, it is clear the guidance has not been filtered down to all the PSNI officers on the ground, resulting in confusion and families with a perfectly legitimate reason for being out of the house being told to go home.

“I raised this issue today to point out the anomaly being experienced by people here, which is not happening in the rest of the UK. Local guidelines need updated to reflect that. Many of those with autism need their routine, whether there is an ongoing pandemic or not.

“I was reassured the PSNI will try to implement that on the basis of fairness, necessity and reasonableness, and I will continue to scrutinise the police to ensure they do just that.”

Priority access to online food deliveries should be given to those deemed as vulnerable, Alliance MLA John Blair has said.

The South Antrim MLA said he had been contacted by a number of constituents self-isolating for several months during the COVID-19 pandemic due to underlying health conditions. However, they have faced difficulties in organising online deliveries from local supermarkets, with delivery slots taken for some time.

Mr Blair has now contacted the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, and Department for Communities to enquire about establishing priority access for vulnerable people to use the online delivery slots.

“What my constituents are experiencing appears to be common to many of the people currently self-isolating under advice,” said Mr Blair.

“In England, the Government worked with supermarkets to give priority access for online food deliveries for those deemed as vulnerable. We need to see a similar scheme for Northern Ireland, and so I have contacted the equivalent Departments to enquire whether it would be possible.

“It would make the lives of those vulnerable people considerably easier, especially if they do not qualify for the Executive’s food package scheme. Some local supermarkets have indicated they are willing to assist and are awaiting Government co-ordination of this scheme.

“This is a trying time for everyone but it is important we pull together and do what we can to help those we can. Priority being given to vulnerable people for online shopping deliveries would be a big step in that direction.”

Alliance MLA John Blair has called for a special helpline to be established for people to report concerns over lack of social distancing in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Blair said he and Alliance colleagues had been inundated with contact from constituents worried several companies are still operating without proper social distancing guidelines being observed and followed.

The South Antrim MLA has now contacted Economy Minister Diane Dodds to ask whether a helpline can be established during the coronavirus pandemic.

“The scientific advice is to practice social distancing as much as possible. While some people are able to work from home and therefore this isn’t as much of an issue, many are still having to go to their place of work throughout this outbreak.

“Unfortunately, judging by the amount of contact my colleagues and I have received from constituents worried their employers are not adhering to the strict social distancing guidelines. Certainly, some factories, warehouses, retail outlets and other businesses across my South Antrim constituency are contravening this, and this is not unique to my area.

“While most staff want to work to support colleagues and employers, they are finding the lack of adherence to social distancing extremely worrying. Therefore a workplace COVID-19 helpline where they could report their concerns and receive assistance on this matter is paramount to not only allaying worries but possibly also saving lives.”

Alliance spokesperson on the environment, John Blair MLA, has welcomed a statement from the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to increase forest cover significantly over the next decade.

John Blair said: “I welcome the commitment from Minister Poots to the new afforestation programme, Forests for our Future, which will see 18 million trees planted by 2030. We are in a climate emergency and this programme will go a little way to starting to reverse the damage we have done to our environment. Northern Ireland only has 8% forest cover, so we are far behind the rest of the UK and Europe.

“While details about the new Forests for our Future programme have still to be announced, I would suggest that it needs to be habitat proofed, to maximise opportunities for new woodlands and native broadleaf species while encouraging natural biodiversity. Increasing forest cover makes an invaluable contribution to removing carbon from the atmosphere, but it will also be important to protect wetlands that act as carbon sinks and are a vital part of our environment.

“I also welcome the commitment to work with all Executive colleagues and other public bodies, such as councils, to identify suitable planting sites. Land acquisition is much more expensive than purchasing trees, so it makes sense to plant on land that is already in public ownership. Additionally, the knowledge and input of voluntary and community groups can help to create local buy-in and add to the success of new planting programmes.”