Conditional approval for Crane site scheme

At last Thursday night’’s Public Sector Liaison Committee, Councillors voted to pass the application made by Seaport (NI) Ltd for 50 dwellings and neighbourhood facilities. However the proposal has been approved with what is known as Negative enforcement. This means that the developer is now required to show that the site at 96 Queen Street has no contamination and until this is done no development will take place.

Ballymena Borough Council's Environmental Services department had objected to the application amid fears that part of the ground could be contaminated.

A letter of objection by the Department was submitted to last Thursday night's meeting, in which the department argued that the contamination is more than slight due to records showing the site being used as railway land, "which is assigned as a high contamination risk." However Deputy Mayor of Ballymena, Alderman PJ McAvoy, argued the railway was not on that side of Queen street.

Twelve councillors voted for the approval with a negative condition to be passed, while none voted against.

Cllr. Nicholl, Cllr. Frew, Cllr. McKernan and Cllr. Gillespie all abstained from voting on the grounds that they do not know enough about the area to make a decision.

In response to the objection, Councillor Martin Clarke argued that all information should have been received before the meeting, he said: "This developer has been waiting a long time."

And the Mayor of Ballymena, James Currie asked: "It has been approved. So why are we making a discussion? Environmental (Services)has had plenty of time."

Committee Chairman, Cllr Declan O’Loan advised the meeting that the environmental services department were reiterating their objection with this letter.

Cllr. O'Loan said: "I am surprised that there is no council officer present to explain it. We have to take it seriously when the department submitted a two page opinion on this."

Councillor Joe McKernan echoed these sentiments: "I agree with the Chairman, quite a lot of matters regarding this piece of ground should be deferred to give time to consultation, it's a serious matter."

The amended application is for the residential development of 50 dwellings, comprising of a mix of 16 town houses and 34 apartments, bank building society ATM and two service retail units.

Councillor Beth Adger argued that the application should be put through as contamination has never stopped other buildings being built on this area.

She said: "My husband worked there for 25 years if there was contamination they would have not let people work there.

DUP Councillor Tommy Nicholl added: "I worked for 18 years in a factory nearby. I have been working with the applicant for the past three years and because of the honesty he has showed, it is working against him."