Councillor voices concern over ‘bullying’

Alliance Councillor Peter Lavery made the claim as Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council’s planning committee discussed a proposed name for a new development.

He alleged that the applicant had tried to contact members about this application.

“I would view it as inappropriate when applicants are trying to harass or bully members of this committee,” said Councillor Lavery. “I wonder were any members contacted by this applicant or was it other members of Council.”

A number of councillors denied having been approached or lobbied on the matter and Councillor Lavery clarified his comments by stating he was not contacted directly about the matter but knows of one councillor who was.

Councillor Gareth Keating warned Councillor Lavery about making this type of allegation.

“I was not bullied or harassed in any way either,” said Cllr Keating. “Be careful about allegations and such terms as someone might take offence to them.”

The proposal under discussion had been considered at June’s meeting of the planning committee to call a development consisting of 10 dwellings at Drumna Avenue, Annesborough Road, Lurgan, ‘Drumna Walk’.

It was rejected at the time in order to protect local heritage in terms of longstanding names, mainly the townland name of Drumnakelly.

However, Council agreed to reconsider the request after the applicant brought further information to light.

The applicant is of the view Drumna Walk reflects the name of the original property on the site, Drumna House and noted that in May 2017, Council approved the name ‘Drumna Avenue’ as the access road to this development.

Members were advised that given this new information officers feel the application is technically complaint with Council policy.

Speaking about the proposal Alderman Kenneth Twyble said: “With the explanation we have been given I think it is sensible and I propose we accept Drumna Walk.”

Alliance Councillor Peter Lavery said he was still concerned that this name was a derivation from the original townland name and expressed his concern that the name heritage of this site could be lost forever.

Alderman Anderson expressed his preference for townland names to be included in the name but said that in light of Council’s 2017 decision, he would second Alderman Twyble’s proposal.

He also confirmed: “I have not been lobbied in any one way”.

UUP Councillor Sam Nicholson said he had not been contacted and wasn’t sure who Councillor Lavery was referring to but agreed “that developers should not be trying to coerce members to support a name”.

He said the 2017 decision sets a precedent and said he was happy to support Alderman Twyble’s proposal.

Lagan River councillor, Tim McClelland also said he was not contacted about the issue and that he was happy to concur with the proposal put forward by Aldermen Twyble and Anderson.

With respect to his preference for the name of the development, Councillor Lavery said: “This is as good a ditch to die in as any. We need to be a bit more firm in our approach to these issues.

“The names we choose will be here long after we are in the ground so I will put forward the proposal to name it Drumnakelly Walk.”

Councillor Lavery’s proposal failed to find a seconder while Alderman Twyble’s proposal to approve the name ‘Drumna Walk’ was seconded by Alderman Anderson and approved by the committee.

Speaking after the meeting the applicant, John Curran, of Roxborough Plant and Construction Limited said he only been in touch to provide councillors with further information, not to influencen the decision.

“I had been in touch with clarification,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“I don’t think the information I had was available at the previous meeting so I just highlighted the name ‘Drumna Avenue’ had already been approved by Council in this area.”