By Alan Healy
A row has erupted over plans to open a new Gospel Hall at the site of a former fast food takeaway in Derry.
The hall will replace the former KFC outlet at the Glenshane Road, Drumahoe, which closed 18 months ago.
The plans, lodged by City of Londonderry charitable trust on behalf, were discussed at yesterday afternoon’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee, held in the Guildhall.
It emerged at the meeting that the Gospel Hall will be used by the local congregation of the Plymouth Brethen Christian Church, an Evangelical Christian movement.
A planning officer told the meeting that a new 1.5 metre wall will also be constructed at the front of the building, over concerns relating to the safety of children attending the hall due to its proximity to a busy main road.
A number of objections had been lodged against the plans by a nearby family in relation to the impact the wall will have on their ability to both access their home and exit onto the Glenshane Road.
The objections were lodged by family who currently own a home located at the rear of the building, which is accessed down a driveway at the side of the former KFC unit.
However, a planning officer said that the adjoining residents would not be harmed by the change of use from a fast food outlet to a Gospel Hall.
He added that issues raised by the objectors in relation to the parking and rights of way were a ‘civil matter’ between them and the applicant which would have to be resolved outside the Planning process.
At that point in the meeting, one of the family members objecting to the plans was given the opportunity to address the committee.
The objector told the meeting that her widowed mother had lived at the house until her death in March of this year, and while she and her siblings welcomed the proposed change of use to a gospel hall, they had ‘grave concerns’ over the impact the wall would have on their ‘right of way’.
She continued that the wall at the front of the hall would ‘terminate’ the right of way her family had used ‘daily for 36 years’.
The objector continued that her family would be forced to reverse onto the Glenshane Road, which she described as ‘extremely dangerous’.
She added that the new development would worsen the danger poised to her family, citing one recent incident where an ambulance had to be called for her sister, which resulted in a neighbour having to stop traffic on the Glenshane Road to allow the vehicle to reverse.
The objector continued that the new hall would also ‘vastly devalue’ their family home, which she said would be a ‘tragic scenario given her parents’ strong work ethic’.
The meeting then head from a trustee for the applicant, the Plymouth Brethren, who said that they had ‘contributed to the social fabric’ of the city, and that its Rapid Relief Team having provided assistance to people during the recent flooding.
He added that they had been looking for a ‘suitable property’ for their congregation for almost a decade, and that its members, including children and OAPs, had helped fundraise for the hall.
The trustee continued that the applicant ‘noted’ the objections, and that they ‘intended to be good neighbours’.
Commenting, the Waterside Sinn Fein councillor Christopher Jackson said that it was ‘disappointing’ to hear the concerns, as he felt the hall was a ‘good thing’ for the village of Drumahoe.
He said that while he was aware the plans were a ‘cause for concern’ he could see no reason to go against the planners, proposing that an approval be issued for the new hall in the hope that the applicant and objectors can work together to resolve the issues.
The approval was then issued.
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