Office meeting to discuss Ballee children’s home

As reported exclusively in last week’s Times, feelings are running high in the area with residents opposing the plans due to ongoing anti-social behaviour issues and concerns about access to the site Via Old Antrim Road.

The application by the Northern Health and Social Care trust to build the new home for six juveniles adjacent to the site of the existing facility off Hollybank Park, was listed for approval.

There were 66 letters of objection submitted to planners in opposition to this application as well as a petition with 97 names.

In last week’s times, Councillor Beth Adger vowed to back the residents and sure enough at last Thursday night’s meeting of the public sector liaison committee, she requested an office meeting with planners to discuss the application with the concerned residents.

Councillor Davy Tweed said: “I think the feeling in the area is one of distrust and anger to this proposal going ahead. There has been ongoing anti-social behaviour problems for years, with hedges being set on fire and stones thrown. We have to take into consideration the elderly in that area. The record of anti-social behaviour is there to be seen.”

Local MLA Paul Frew, who voiced his support for the residents in the Times, said: “It is a residential area and there has been 30 years of anti-social behaviour.”

Alderman Sam Hanna asked senior planning officer, Cathy McKeary whether planners take on board the concerns raised in each letter of objection sent to the department. He said: “What annoys me is that planners don’t heed the opinion in the letters of objection.”

She replied: “I strongly disagree, we don’t disregard letters of objection, we have to base our decision on current planning policy.”

“Then what’s the point of residents contacting them?” Added Hanna.

Frew raised the question as to how this application was processed quickly compared to other applications that are not in the public sector.

Cllr. Frew added: “This application is submitted in June, maybe May, this is down as an approval already even though we have 66 letters of objection.

“We would like to see every application going through in just four months. Issue that the public sector can get applications through fast track, seems to me that there is one rule for the public sector and another for the private sector.”

Ms. McKeary said that this application was not given priority, she added: “This was processed in due course, there might have been 66 letters of objection but it wasn’t like there were 66 issues. The letters had many of the same issues raised, this is not taking anything away from the issues but the same two concerns were raised by many of the letters.”

Councillor James Currie told members that he feels there is a social obligation to look after vulnerable young people.

Cllr. Frew said: “I would agree with the need but that’s not the issue, this is a planning issue. It’s the position of the home being in a built up area.”

It was agreed that an office meeting will be held to discuss the application with the objectors.