Call to relax restrictions

The call comes from local DUP MLA Stephen Moutray.

The 'MAIL' understands a meeting was held with planners in the town to discuss the conservation area - which many see as having stymied development in the town for some years.

Under the regulations large parts of the town centre can only be developed within tight guidelines to preserve the town's 'classic' look - even though many of the shopfronts were only rebuilt following the bomb of 1991.

In many cases it has led to the town's shopfronts taking on a more than dilapidated look - indeed one building got into such a sorry state it has been demolished with a hole in the shopfronts at Market Street its only legacy so far.

During the meeting, the 'MAIL' understands, there was an undertaking from the planners to adopt a common sense approach to the regulations.

Speaking on the conservation regulations Alderman Stephen Moutray said: “I have recently been in contact with Department officials with regards to the possibility of relaxing the conservation regulations within Lurgan town centre.

“While I accept it is important to retain the historical character of some of the buildings within Lurgan town centre, I do believe that the current regulations are over prescriptive and need to be relaxed.

“I am aware that Lurgan town centre has lost out on development opportunities because of the restrictions currently in place. It is not acceptable that such opportunities are being lost to Lurgan town centre because of the town Conservation Area.

“I would therefore call on the Department to look seriously at this very pertinent issue and review its present policy in relation to Lurgan.

"Lurgan cannot be allowed to slip further behind other towns in attracting investment especially in the current economic climate. I would hope that all those concerned will support me in this endeavour."