Residents Seek Legal Action Over New B & B

RESIDENTS of a Derry street are considering legal action after approval was issued for a new bed and breakfast in the area.

- Alan Healy

The approval was issued at a meeting last week of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Planning Committee.

Planning permission was issued for the new development despite opposition to the move by the SDLP.

The meeting was told that the applicant had sought approval for the change of use at number 19 Clarence Avenue from a private dwelling to a partial bed and breakfast, made up of three bedrooms on the first floor and common rooms on the ground floor.

The building itself is a three-storey building on the corner of Clarence Avenue, which fronts onto Springham Street.

It emerged at the meeting that a total of 27 objections had been lodged against the plans, which related to what was described as the ‘erosion of the residential character’ of Clarence Avenue, given that the proposal is a business, and the lack of car parking provision for staff and guests of the bed and breakfast.

Concerns were also expressed by residents with regards to noise.

A planning officer told the meeting that Transport NI had considered the proposal and the objection letters submitted with regard to the potential increase in volume of traffic.

However, the officer added that Transport NI was ‘content’ that the new bed and breakfast ‘will not result in a significant increase’ in the volume of traffic.

The officer continued that the council’s Environmental Health Service (EHS) had no objections to the proposal.