To ask the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to AQO 1021/10, whether he can confirm that Belfast City Council's submission to the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan supported the protection for the green wedge between Dundonald and Belfast being maintained; and that the Council has not withdrawn from this position.

I can confirm that Belfast City Council submitted a detailed formal response to the proposals contained in the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) on 25 January 2005. Although the Council does not make a specific reference to the Dundonald Urban Landscape Wedge, they do include support for Landscape Wedges. They also make reference to the Landscape Wedges that were included in the Belfast Urban Area Plan (BUAP) 2001, and highlight the importance of these wedges in defining the limits of settlements. The Dundonald Wedge was one of the wedges included in the BUAP.

Belfast City Council also submitted a further response to the BMAP Team on 2 November 2005, in which they counter objected to representations that had been placed on public display in relation to Draft BMAP. In particular they objected to proposals that would remove significant areas from the proposed Urban Landscape Wedge designations at Knock Golf Club.

I can confirm that Belfast City Council has not withdrawn from their position.