LOCAL politicians want to meet with the owner of the Finnebrogue venison plant in Downpatrick and those opposed to development work at the factory.
Last month, the Planning Service ordered Mr. Denis Lynn to stop construction work and tear down a new building which had recently been completed without planning approval.
The Planning Service says a number of buildings have been built at the Finnebrogue plant without planning permission and that retrospective applications for these, submitted in January 2010 and June this year, are being recommended for refusal.
Mr. Lynn insists he has not broken any law and that there is provision within the Planning Order to obtain retrospective permission, essentially to cover the eventuality where commercial contracts won’t wait on planning. He is also concerned at the time it takes local planners to process applications.
At Monday night’s meeting of Down Council, the Planning Service declined a request to defer the refusal recommendations for one month.
But it has agreed to defer issuing any decision notice until the outcome of a meeting tomorrow to discuss planning issues at the Finnebrogue plant between senior planners and South Down Assemblyman John McCallister.
Politicians want to meet with Mr. Lynn and those opposed to development work carried out without planning approval, but not all councillors are in favour of the move. A proposal on Monday night by councillor William Dick seeking talks with both parties and a deferral of the Planning Service refusal recommendations for one month was passed by 13 votes to eight, with one abstention.
Councillor Dick said given the controversy surrounding the planning applications for the Finnebrogue plant, Mr. Lynn and his architect should address Down Council. He said objectors to the work which has been carried out should also be heard.
Councillor Billy Walker said while there are those who argue planning law was broken at the Finnebrogue plant, it is not something for him to determine. He said the business employs around 120 people whose jobs could be under threat, if the current issues are not resolved.
Councillor Patrick Clarke argued Mr. Lynn is trying to work with local planners, while Councillor Colin McGrath described the businessman as one of the district’s biggest employers. He said he didn’t want to see any planning decision which could lead to job losses.
Councillor Cadogan Enright said building work has repeatedly been carried out at the Downpatrick factory without planning approval, adding: “We can’t have a situation where an applicant puts a gun to our heads looking for retrospective permission. The planning law applies to Mr. Lynn the same as it does to everyone else.”
Councillor Éamonn Mac Con Midhe said while there are those who argue planners must work with the business community, when it comes to the business community working with the planners, “that’s a different story,” while councillor Liam Johnston reminded his colleagues that Environment Minister Alex Attwood has expressed concern at what’s happening at the Finnebrogue plant.
Planning official, Annette McAlarney, said additional drawings which have recently been submitted to planners in relation to work at the Finnebrogue plant are being treated as a new application which has not yet been validated. She described previous drawings supplied for work carried out at the plant as “fundamentally inaccurate.”