A previously-approved bid by residents of a Portadown housing estate to erect dual Irish-English street signage is to be referred back to ABC Council’s planning committee after an 11th hour objection.
It was at the April meeting of committee that the new street signs for Ballyoran Hill were approved after two thirds of residents who responded to a survey voted in favour.
The council’s current street naming and numbering policy was issued in October 2020 to ensure the local authority fulfils its statutory responsibility.
In relation to Ballyoran Hill, 25 residents were in support while 10 were not – therefore exceeding the necessary two thirds threshold.
After a recorded vote on April 1, the street signage request was approved after a recorded vote by committee members, with five in favour and four abstaining.
As is customary, the decision had to go before ABC Council’s statutory full sitting.
And, at the outset of Monday night’s meeting, it was head of building control Tom Lavery who revealed late correspondence objecting to the application.
He told councillors: “Following that meeting, at approximately 5pm, officers received an email correspondence from an objector. There was evidence, which has since been provided, that an attempt was made to submit that email on the March 31.
“However, due to an error in the email address, it was not received prior to the committee meeting.
“Members of the committee will recall that the same correspondence was referenced during deliberations on a separate application for Corcrain Gardens, where the committee decided to refer that matter back to the next meeting of the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee for full consideration of the correspondence.
“Since then, officers have also received further items of correspondence objecting to the application for Ballyoran Hill.
“Officers would ask members to be mindful that the correspondence mentioned this evening has not been fully considered by the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee.
“In the interests of consistency, officers would recommend that all correspondence be referred back to the planning and regulatory services and to allow members to properly consider and weight this additional correspondence along with all previously reported information.
“While members may be disappointed that a decision is not taken this evening, this approach is consistent with previous council practice, including the Woodside Hill application in September 2023.
“On that occasion, correspondence was received after committee consideration, but just prior to full council. Members were advised in similar terms and the decision was to refer the matter back to the Planning and Regular Services Committee.”
It was agreed that the matter then be referred back.
But Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Duffy said: “I just want to make sure that when it does come back to committee all information is there. This email that went to the wrong address, I want to see copies of it as well. I want to see dates, times, just all relevant information as is supplied.”
