Planners challenged on policy for Riverside Regional Centre

The issue was raised at last Tuesday's meeting of Coleraine Council's Planning Committee when members heard that Planners had refused plans for a car showroom at the Riverside Regional Centre but had passed an application for two cafe and sandwich bars in the same area.

An application by Roadside Garages on Somerset Road was for a new three storey commercial unit to accommodate a car showroom, administration suites, retail space for bulky goods and office space.

The proposal was refused because Planners said the development would detract from the vitality and viability of the town centre and would cause traffic access problems.

Councillors asked for an office meeting to discuss the matter further but later in the meeting the approval of another application caused some confusion.

The application by Kelvin Properties was for units beside Laser Electrical to develop a cafe and restaurant.

Cllr Christine Alexander asked if Planners should be encouraging such applications outside of the town centre.

"I thought the Riverside Regional Centre was a centre for the sale of bulky goods. What is the Planning policy regarding the Riverside?" she asked.

"We have McDonalds, Yoko, Indus Valley, a new restaurant, Burger King, Table Table, the cafe in Sainsburys out there already and we approve another two cafes and refuse an application for a garage which is exactly what the Riverside Regional Centre was designed for."

Cllr Robert McPherson questioned how Planners could refuse the Roadside Garages application and yet approve the cafe scheme.

"This seems to be the wrong way round to me," he said.

Alderman David McClarty agreed saying: "This is the thin edge of the wedge. The original selling point of the Riverside Regional Centre was that it was for bulky goods. There are ample food and watering holes out there."

However Cllr Timothy Deans said that this was just a minor issue and that people coming to the Riverside Regional Centre would expect to be able to "nip in for a coffee and sandwich" while they are shopping.

While Cllr John Dallat agreed that people, for example, coming in from rural areas to the Riverside Centre would expect to get something to eat while shopping, he also said that opening new eateries out of town could impact on the town centre which, he said: "Let's face it, insists on closing at 5.30pm.”

"But we need to avoid a proliferation of fast food outlets out there. It's all a question of balance."

Cllr Billy Leonard said that originally the Riverside Centre was ear-marked for the sale of bulky goods.

"This is more than the thin end of the wedge. We have a sports shop out there, as well as having one in the town centre. We have a pet shop - all of which are in the town centre.

"We need a good mix of town centre and out-of-town shopping."