Ballymoney Road - fury as plan gets green light

Councillors at last Thursday night's Public Sector Liaison Committee voiced their dissapointment at planners decision to back the mixed use housing development proposed by Ovalbridge comprising 14 apartments, seven semi-detached, three detached and nine townhouses on lands to the rear of 305 Ballymoney Road.

Speaking at the meeting Ballymena Mayor, Councillor James Currie said: "This indicates this Council have little or no influence on planning decisions."

Former Mayor, Councillor Maurice Mills told the meeting he was disillusioned by the decision, he said: "I am very disappointed, at the office meeting I thought the concerns put forward had entered the minds of the planners.

"The residents are not against the development just the nature of the development. The Ballymoney road in general seems to be a target for developers and spectators."

The main concern raised by objectors was the affect the development would have on the already highly problematic storm and foul water drainage on the sewage system in the area.

Councillor Mills added: "We already have had blocked sewers, and on your heads be it, I want to register this on behalf of the residents."

Councillor Monica Digney voiced her support for the residents, she said: "I would agree with everything that has been said, the sewage will not be adequate.

"There will be a problem and this will need to be addressed."

Senior Planning Officer Denise Kerr responded by informing the meeting that planning went through every detail of the application, she said: "The current proposal has slight benefits for the hydraulic performance of the Ballymoney Road area. A member of staff spoke to NI water who said they can't refuse an application that improves hydraulic performance.

"Planning confirmed every aspect of the proposal and went through it with a fine tooth comb, it meets the standard."

Despite this Councillors voiced their opinions on how they were against this decision, Alderman James Alexander added: "This is a totally disgraceful decision it was a settled area planners don's seem to care about what objectors feel.

Councillor James Henry: "In this area where residents are settled it is very unsettling for them to have this thrust upon them, I am very disappointed."

Councillor David Tweed added his concerns about this area referring to it as a hotspot while Councillor Joe McKernan noted the large number of objections to the development.

Alderman Alexander added: "I lived and worked there - to put 39 homes there is impossible, there is no way it could withstand that."

Alderman PJ McAvoy thanked those who put a lot of time and effort into opposing the application.

Councillor Robin Cherry asked the meeting to let it be known that all the council members were against this decision, which was agreed.