Kevin McNally Workers Party Representative for East Belfast has challenged the decision making process at Belfast City Council and their readiness to approve plans for large private sector health providers

Mr McNally said a number of buildings in the East of the city some currently not in use but the Stormont Hotel which is still in use as a conference centre with hotel accommodation. The owners have been granted change of use planning permission and this has caused a controversy at the full Council meeting this week as objections were lodged by local residents and politicians who argued that in order to capitalise on the growing tourism industry hotel accommodation was needed.

Those presenting the case for all the change of use permissions cited the need for over 800 care and nursing home beds cited census data that show the numbers of citizens over 65 and the closing of one home in the area. Mr McNally this should have raised a red flag, given that big companies who run these homes consider patients and residents as commodities so it can be assumed they had empty beds that rendered the home financially unviable.

The Workers Party have in the past challenged the practice of all planning permission being granted by the planning committee and merely rubber stamped by the full council, this way of conducting council business is not open, transparent or democratic.