Larne Crown can stay till 2015

Planners have deemed that the Larne crown roundabout feature can remain in place for two more years.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Dec 2013, 14:20 BST

The jubilee crown feature at the Circular Road roundabout. INLT 48-346-PR

The local authority erected the eight-metre metal structure at Circular Road for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, without obtaining planning approval. The Department of the Environment recently indicated that it must be removed before December, 2015.

UUP mayor Cllr Maureen Morrow said: “Planning was applied for, but due to time constraints, the crown had to be put in position in time for the jubilee.”

East Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan said: “What the council has done here means Larne is not a shared space.” He suggested “some other kind of public art that is reflective of both sides of the community”.