'How will pedestrians safely cross the road to access the site?': Further delay in proposed new filling station as 'road safety' concerns aired

The proposal by applicant Solo Direct Ltd is for a petrol filling station and retail unit with parking, lighting and associated development including solar panels and package treatment plant, alterations to Ballycraigy Road to provide a right-hand turning lane and alterations to the pedestrian crossing.

Planning officer Ashleigh Wilson told the committee outline permission was granted by the Planning Appeals Commission in December 2024.

She reported three objections from one property have been received by the planning department expressing concerns in relation to increased traffic and road safety, noise impact and loss of vegetation. She indicated that additional tree-planting would reduce any visual impact of the proposed development.

Speaking at the meeting, Antrim DUP Councillor Paul Dunlop BEM, who is not a committee member but had speaking rights, said the application was before the committee with a recommendation to approve.

“I believe there is a fundamental question that needs to be addressed: how will pedestrians safely cross the road to access the site? Traffic volumes have increased significantly making crossing the road increasingly difficult.”

He requested installation of a toucan-style pedestrian crossing and he asked members to consider how pedestrians would reach the proposed site safely.

Threemilewater Ulster Unionist Cllr Stephen Cosgrove asked if Cllr Dunlop had contacted DfI (Department for Infrastructure). Cllr Dunlop said he had contacted the Department following a recent road traffic accident and was told DfI would be carrying out a crossing survey.

Les Ross, planning agent, said it was a “big surprise” that Cllr Dunlop was “talking about traffic issues”.

“DfI has given it a clean bill of health,” he stated. “At the outset, we talked to councillors and local residents about what crossing arrangements should be put in place.”

He said there was “every opportunity” for an objection of this nature to have been highlighted earlier in the process. He remarked it has taken seven years for the application to reach this stage.

Mr Ross noted pedestrian footpaths leading from the estate, adding it is a “very busy point”. “We knew that from the outset,” he said.

He indicated that pedestrians would be “channelled to particular points on the road” and the proposal includes barriers and islands.

Threemilewater DUP Cllr Sam Flanagan noted an anticipated increase of 600 vehicle movements each day.

Mr Ross said he did not consider the site would attract “significant additional movements” along Ballycraigy Road but the proposed outlet would service traffic moving along the road already which he expected to be “spread across the day”. “We are more than satisfied this is the best arrangement at the site.”

Cllr Cosgrove noted a community centre across the road from the proposed location. He asked about “stopping the traffic as opposed to channelling pedestrians”.

Mr Ross said the developer would be “happy to work with DfI”, adding he did not believe that changes “need to be made”.

Cllr Cosgrove asked head of planning Barry Diamond if the council could request the developer to “put up some signals to stop traffic instead of channelling pedestrians and asking them to dodge traffic on a busy road”.

Mr Diamond cautioned that traffic signals “may not be the best solution” and “imposing a solution at the wrong location and if it is the wrong solution, you will make traffic and pedestrian safety worse”. “At present, DfI says this solution is acceptable,” he stated.

Cllr Kinnear proposed accepting the recommendation to approve the application but no one seconded the proposal.

Cllr Flanagan said he was “not entirely satisfied the road safety issues have been addressed” and proposed a deferral, seconded by Macedon DUP Cllr Ben Mallon. In a vote, six councillors voted in favour of deferral with two against.