THE DEVELOPMENT OFF EAGRY now known as EAGRY GARDENS
PUBLIC ENQUIRY
NO THERE IS NOT TO BE ONE - IT HAS ALREADY TAKEN PLACE -
On 23 July 2002! And a decision was made on 09/01/2003 See the PAC web site
Here is an extract from a letter re. the Off Eagry Site which was sent to the Rivers Agency by the Planning Service on 18th July 2002

18/7/02
" URGENT. - Planning Service has received revised plans relating to the aforementioned applications. The applications are to be discussed at a Public Enquiry to be held on Tuesday 23rd July 2002".

 
And here it crops up again. This time in a letter from the Development Control, Northern Division, Roads Service, in a letter to the Planning Appeals Commission : -
"At the re-opened Public Inquiry into Stanalane. Bushmills, Roads Service undertook to check the visibility splays at the junction of Eagry Park with Straid Road, "
Note that word "re-opened" We understand the first enquiry was abandoned as they had forgotten to inform one of the Council's involved!
 
And here is part of a letter from the Planning Appeals Commission (14 June 2002) to a private individual in Bushmills. The recipient of this letter is not a resident of Eagry and was not involved in the objections to the Off Eagry development.
14/6/02
" The Commission considers that the hearing should be reopened to allow the parties to address the current situation in relation to Site 6 (East of Eagry Park) (That's our off Eagry site) and Site 16 (Priestland Road North).

The hearing arrangements are as follows:

Tuesday, 23rd July 2002, 10:30am in the Boardroom, Moyle District Council Offices, Ballycastle.

I would stress that the only matter for discussion will be the extent to which these particular sites could make a contribution to housing supply in Bushmills and the number of dwellings that could be provided. Discussions on other matters will not be permitted."
 
Was anyone in Eagry Park aware of this Enquiry? Was this enquiry published in the newspapers? Not as far as we can ascertain.
 
We were not allowed to contact the Planning Appeals Commissioner directly but spoke to her office via an intermediary. As a result, on 9/8/2002 we wrote to the Planning Case officer looking after the Off Eagry applications with the following observations: - .
9/8/02
" ....one thing was made abundantly clear by... (the person ), who checked directly with the Commissioner - the two Planning Applications 0247 and 0248 Eagry Park and 0426 Priestland Road, both submitted by...... (Off Eagry developer) could have a bearing on the.... (Stanalane developer's) application for housing behind Dunluce High School.

Does this mean that we have now entered a bartering situation where housing and planning are concerned? If the (Off Eagry developer ) is allowed to build a certain number of houses, The developer of (Stanalane) has to cut down his allocation or vice versa?

The 23rd July meeting was not publicly advertised, although the PAC insists it was an open meeting which the press and public could attend, and that they notified the original objectors to the proposal by the developer for 101 houses behind Dunluce High School. But how were the rest of us to know? Planners from Coleraine Sub-Divisional Planning Office were apparently aware of the meeting. So why were we, and the other ......objectors to the proposed "Behind Eagry Park" development, ......... not given the chance to attend - even though it was in the middle of the "Twelfth Fortnight"?

Surely housing supply and demand and appropriate Planning concerns are of vital importance to the whole populace of Bushmills. The Commissioner's Report, which may take months to prepare, will not be made public. Its recommendations will not even go to the developer of Behind Dunluce School. Apparently the Report goes to the Planning Service HQ. for them to make the final decision on what is to happen.

How does that tie in with expediting the Planning Process in an open and speedy manner? The Priestland Road Application has been on-going since 1999; and from what we were told by one of your administrative officers, was APPROVED on 17th of June 2002.

The "Behind Eagry Park" application has been ongoing since July 2001 and is now on its second amended plan. How do these facts tie in with the PAC Hearing held on 23rd July 2002 which said. 'The only matter for discussion will be the extent to which these particular Sites could make a contribution to housing supply in Bushmills and the number of dwellings that could be provided?'

How can/could Coleraine Planners decide to approve or refuse either of these applications BEFORE the PAC Commissioner's Report with its recommendations, is written let alone arrived at Planning HQ. for their final decision?

What is going on?

By chance we have become aware yet again, that although lip service is paid to the ideal of public involvement in the planning process, far from being OPEN and INCLUSIVE, the perception created is of a tangled web being spun behind tightly closed doors. (Names omitted for the purposes of this web site and italics substituted.)
WE NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY
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