Causeway Coast and Glens Council 'liaising with legal advisors' over demotion of Ballycastle's Antrim Arms
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council says it will carry out further legal proceedings around the potential demolition of the historic Antrim Arms Hotel in Ballycastle.
The listed building, elements of which are over 400 years old, was declared a dangerous structure by council last year, and at February’s Environmental Services Committee meeting Alliance councillor Lee Kane put forward a motion asking for an update on the “management and resolution of disruption caused by the dangerous structure” at Castle Street in the town.
In response, Council’s director of Environmental Services, Aidan McPeake, said that following the dangerous structure notice, the building’s owners had put forward a planning application for demolition in August last year.
This planning application was refused by council’s Planning Department following consultation with the Department for Communities’ (DfC) Historic Environment Division.
“The applicant has the statutory right to appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) within four months of the refusal decision but no appeal was submitted,” Mr McPeake noted. “And during that appeal period no further enforcement action could be taken, we had to wait until that period was completed.
“The court order required compliance with the dangerous structure notice, and that remains outstanding. To progress matters council will need to return to court, we’re currently liaising with our legal advisors."
Mr McPeake informed the members of the Council’s Environmental Services Committee: “As this remains a live case unfortunately I’m unable to comment further at this time, but further updates will be provided in due course.”