St Cedma's hall plan granted

Members of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s planning committee agreed las week to accept the recommendation of planning officials to approve the application, subject to conditions.

The decision was recommended to the full council by nine votes, with no objections, on the proposal of Cllr Rev Dr Paul Reid (DUP, and minister at the Old Presbyterian Church of Larne and Kilwaughter), seconded by Cllr James McKeown (Sinn Fein).

Members heard from principal planner Gary McGuinness that all statutory consultees were satisfied and that 13 letters of support had been received for the application, such was the state of the existing hall and anti-social activities currently at the site.

The application is for a single-storey, multi-functional hall with kitchen toilets and storage.

A statement accompanying the application indicated the existing church hall at Curran Road was in disrepair and no longer fit for purpose.

Conditions include a bar on building work until the archaeology of the site is studied; adequate hard surface provision for parking; and the retention of existing natural screening.