Gilford forecourt approved after five years

More than five years after a planning application was lodged seeking permission to bring a filling station to Gilford, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council’s planning committee has finally approved the application.

Appearing before a meeting of the committee on Wednesday, October 5, the application, lodged by Whittaker and Watt Architects on behalf of Henderson Group Property seeks permission to demolish an existing petrol filling station forecourt and convenience store at 1 and 4 Banbridge Road, Gilford.

Permission is also sought to construct a new petrol filling station forecourt and convenience store with associated retaining wall, access and parking including the change of use of existing commercial premises to a new car parking layout.

A report presented to members of the committee ahead of the meeting noted Council’s planners opinion the application should be approved as the proposal complies with the strategic planning policy statement (SPPS) and all other relevant planning policies.

“Officers have assessed all other material matters, including those raised by representation and have determined that any material harm which may arise will be adequately and properly addressed by means of attaching planning conditions,” reads the report.

Discussion of the application started with a number of members of the committee excusing themselves from proceedings for several reasons.

Following this, those councillors that remained in the debate heard from two MLAs, Jonathan Buckley and Doug Beattie, both of whom spoke in favour of the application.

Addressing the chamber, the DUP’s Jonathan Buckley MLA said “the lack of a service station of this nature, with its associated parking and fuel pumps is in my opinion, and indeed many of my constituents, having a real social and economic impact on the people of Gilford”.

“They simply cannot understand the delay we have had to date.”

UUP leader, Doug Beattie MLA said he had two questions about this application – is there a need for it and is this an appropriate proposal?

“If I take the second question first, the answer is absolutely yes, of course it is, this is a pre-existing site of a petrol station and convenience store previously, so it is absolutely appropriate,” he said.

“That takes us to the first question, is there a need for a petrol station and shop in Gilford and the answer to both is yes.”

Alderman Kenneth Twyble said he knows Gilford very well and knows of the “need for a petrol station” in the village and said it “needs to be returned” before telling the chamber he is “clear in his own mind about the case”.

Alderman Glenn Barr said it has been “a long enough” debate and said he too was happy the information in front of the committee would allow it to draw the “matter to a close”.

The proposal to approve was seconded by Councillor Nicholson who said there has been a “very careful, rigorous scrutiny of this application” before other members endorsed the proposal.