Councillors question decision to refuse business extension

At last Tuesday night's Planning Committee meeting at Coleraine Borough Council planners revealed they had turned down the proposed development at Grove Road as the applicant had failed to demonstrate that the business would run in conjunction with agricultural operations on the farm.

Planners also said that the applicant had also failed to demonstrate if there were other suitable buildings on the site which could be used instead.

It was also stated that the proposed development would not be in keeping with rural character and there were no adequate access arrangements provided.

Cllr Adrian McQuillan questioned the decision and asked the planners whether or not they had taken in to consideration Minister Poots recent statement regarding planning applications and job creation?

Paul Duffy from the Planning Service though said that they had looked at the proposal but they didn't think it was relevant to the Minister's statement as it was only for the storage of Christmas lights.

Cllr Sam Cole stated that the applicant felt let down by the planners.

"This young man feels he is being hard shouldered by the Planning Service," he said. "This country needs more young entrepreneurs like him.

"This development was going to create some much needed jobs in the area through the manufacture of Christmas lights. The applicant had also applied for a grant to help with his business on the strength of this application so I don't know where this leaves him now."

Cllr McQuillan proposed that Council back an appeal on the decision, which was seconded by Cllr Cole and supported unanimously by the rest of the councillors.