Planners to meet road officials on club’s base

Planners to meet road officials on club’s base

14 December 2016

A LOCAL Boxing Club will have to wait until the New Year to find out if it can remain in business.

The Crossgar-based East Down Amateur Boxing Club is seeking planning approval to remain where it has been operating for the past six years — in a former poultry house on the Downpatrick Road.

A recommendation by planners to refuse the application submitted by the Boxing Club was due to be discussed by Newry, Mourne and Down Council’s Planning Committee last week. However, the application was withdrawn by planners to enable them to hold further discussions with roads officials.

Planners argue there are no overriding reasons why the club is essential in a rural location and that access from its base on to the main Downpatrick to Crossgar road will prejudice road safety and significantly inconvenience traffic flow. In addition, they argue no exceptional circumstances have been presented to allow economic development in the countryside.

Rowallane councillor, Billy Walker, has welcomed the planners’ decision to meet with Transport NI officials to discuss concerns about the main access to the club being located off the main Downpatrick to Crossgar road.

He said the cross-community club wants to remain at its current base which is located adjacent to other former poultry houses which are being used by a variety of businesses. Councillor Walker explained the club is only used at night, arguing there is very little impact on the main road which runs alongside its base.

“I welcome the planners’ decision to hold further discussions with roads officials on this particular issue. It is my understanding that it will be the New Year before there will be a final decision,” he said.

“There are no other suitable venues the club could use, that is why it is essential it can remain at its existing premises. I hope the initial decision to refuse the club’s planning application will be reversed.”

“A number of businesses operate from the Downpatrick Road site which is in effect a mini industrial park where former poultry houses have been put to new use. I cannot get my head around concerns which have been expressed about access onto the main road which is a so-called protected route.”