Council caravan park scheme blocked... by city councillors
By Brendan McDaid – 08 May 2013
A local authority’s planning application for a new camp and caravan site has been blocked by its own councillors.
The Department of the Environment had recommended approval for the new site to cope with extra visitor numbers during Londonderry’s UK City Of Culture year.
The Government nod came despite hundreds of residents registering opposition to the planning application, lodged by Derry City Council in October 2012.
In a shock move at yesterday’s meeting of the council’s Planning Committee, councillors asked for the decision to be deferred.
The camp site was to be located close to St Columb's Park Leisure Centre, just off Limavady Road in the Waterside.
Three petitions with a total of 380 signatures from 250 different addresses were lodged with the Planning Service objecting to the plans.
A further 11 letters of objection were also received.
Derry City Council had been looking to install camping facilities for both caravans and tents as there will be a chronic shortage of accommodation during certain events later this year.
The space would provide accommodation for up to 32 camper vans and caravans — with no such facilities currently available in the Derry City area.
The new site would have included alterations to existing entrances and the creation of an access road, parking bays, drainage, street lighting and soft landscaping.
An existing building on site was also due to be replaced with a new service building to incorporate showers, toilets, kitchen and a reception area.
The latest development comes three months after it emerged that the council was seeking legal advice over its plans in response to objections from local people.
Among the concerns flagged up was that the site would be subject to a ‘change of use’ from its present capacity.
There were also concerns that the site could become a halting site after the City of Culture year has ended, something council officials have given assurances will not happen. The matter was only touched upon at yesterday’s Planning Committee meeting.
DUP Councillor Maurice Devenney said his party would not be supporting the approval decision in light of the number of people signing objections.
Mr Devenney asked for the matter to be deferred for an office meeting.
SDLP councillor Martin Reilly agreed and requested that as Derry City Council was the applicant, council officers attend the meeting with planning officials and councillors.
The move, which will be welcomed by many residents in the Browning Drive and Limavady Road areas, is expected to compound the pressing need for further accommodation as the City of Culture programme intensifies.
Large scale up and coming events such as One Big Weekend and the Return of CholmCille are expected to put pressure on available accommodation in Derry and the surrounding areas.
The All-Ireland Fleadh will see Derry’s population quadruple as up to 400,000 music lovers descend on the city.
The office meeting to discuss the planning application is to be held next Wednesday.
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