Broadside at Council

David Calvert, who owns the House of Bridle, has launched a broadside at the council over its handling of development in the town.

In a letter to the ‘MAIL’ Mr Calvert, describing himself as a local trader, said Lurgan’s problems go back well beyond the recession and blamed the creation of Craigavon as a borough and the many problems that flowed from that decision.

He went on: “I believe that Lurgan with its own council and councillors concentrating their efforts on Lurgan and the village areas would have served the town and its people much better. However, that is in the past and we must deal with the circumstances in which we now find ourselves.”

He added: “Over the years Craigavon shopping centre, now known as Rushmere, has increased in size over and above anything that was originally planned for it. It undoubtedly serves the people of Craigavon in many respects but it should never be allowed to take the place of towns like Lurgan and Portadown which bring independent retailing with all the benefits and services they can contribute to a local town and its people.

“The local Chamber of Trade recognised the changing circumstances in the Borough and in order to compete with out of town shopping centres proposals were put forward as to how they believe the town should progress, right down to the type of street lights, seating, signage etc. However, while these proposals were unanimously endorsed by the Chamber of Trade, nothing of what the traders wanted was accepted by those in authority.

“The changes to the town in recent months have been the result of the implementation of the Public Realm Works. When those plans were first published and placed in the town hall for consultation it was quite clear to me that the proposals were not something that would benefit our town.”

He claimed concerns over the works had been ignored: “The Council then acquiesced in the consultant’s views, rejecting the traders’ views and we now have a design for Lurgan which is to its detriment in many respects. We now have unnecessary large footpaths , considerably reduced parking space and dual carriageway which runs into single carriageway creating bottlenecks at different points throughout the town.”

He also pointed to concerns over the “Craigavon Integrated Development Framework”, published in April 2010 which he said states people will come to Lurgan for a relaxed shopping and leisure experience.

Mr Calvert said: “I find this rather strange as the Council have already decided in principle to close the swimming pool and its associated leisure facilities.

“It is obvious that the planners and Council wish to downgrade Lurgan and concentrate recreation and shopping in the central area. Further development of the central area will have a huge detrimental economic effect on Lurgan, its people and traders.”

See the full text of Mr Calvert’s letter on page 16.