Hotel plans cause controversy
EXTENSION plans for one of Ulster's oldest hotels could "bring local business to its knees", it has been claimed.
Enabling works are currently under way to allow the Old Inn at Crawfordsburn in north Down, which dates back some 400 years, to build a new kitchen.
The work, which will last up to nine months, has brought the main road in the tiny village down to a single lane.
Owner of Crawfordsburn Service Station, John McCormick, said the disruption is "crippling" his business by significantly reducing the passing trade on which he relies.
"Before this work started I would have had about 700 customers a day, now that's down to 400," said Mr McCormick.
"It could bring my business to its knees. Most of my business is made up of passing trade - but now people are avoiding the village at all costs.
"There has been no consultation."
Crawfordsburn Service Station currently employs three full-time and three part-time members of staff, all of whom could be made redundant if business continues to suffer, he added.
Green Party MLA Brian Wilson said village residents are "going through the roof" about the extension works.
"There has been no consultation, and the length of time this work will take and the level of disruption is making people very angry," he said.
A Roads Service spokeswoman confirmed the duration of the works is likely to be nine months.
Mr McCormick is also concerned that a wall was removed at his property, without his permission, to allow pedestrian access to the Crawfordsburn Country Park, located behind his garage. A previous access point behind the Old Inn has been blocked off.
A Department of Environment spokesman said the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), which runs the country park, was not consulted about the wall removal.
The spokesperson added: "NIEA is investigating the closure of its sloped access from the footpath beside the Inn into the country park. An alternative adjacent access with a step down has been provided through the demolition of a low stone wall in private ownership. NIEA was not consulted about this."
Mr McCormick said: "It would be mean of me to block it back up again, because people wouldn't be able to get down to the country park. What can I do?"
Crawfordsburn Country Park is one of the most popular attractions in Northern Ireland.
When contacted by the News Letter, the Crawfordsburn Inn declined to comment on the matter.
There have been a number of controversies in the village.
The Inn's plans to build a multi-storey car park were recommended for approval by planners - a later motion condemning this was unanimously supported by North Down Borough Council.
The car park, which will have a facade to make it look like village buildings, will fill a tree-lined space in the heart of the village that is used as a location for a popular Christmas carol service
Residents were also opposed to plans to build multi-units of housing on the site of Crawfordsburn Country Club, across the road from the Inn.
The plan was similarly recommended for approval by planners, but then later turned down by Planning Service after residents groups and councillors expressed disapproval and staged protests.
Crawfordsburn is designated as an Area of Village Character which means that it should have extra planning protection from inappropriate development. But critics say that such designations offer such weak protection as to be almost meaningless.
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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