Street Furniture bill to come in next year

THE Street Street Cafe Licensing Bill, which will deal with street furniture, will come into play from spring next year, the Roads Service has confirmed.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd May 2013, 15:00 BST

Coleraine Borough Council had contacted them regarding cafe tables and chairs on the public footway at Portstewart promenade.

At the moment Roads Service tolerates Street Cafes so long as they do not obstruct the free passage of pedestrians or compromise public safety.

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Meanwhile, councillors have reacted angrily after the erection of two advertising signs was given the go ahead in Portrush.

The application from Northern Ireland Transport to erect two replacement signs on the embankment opposite Portstewart Road, which has been refused twice in the past, was given consent by the Planning Service after an intervention by Environment Minister Alex Attwood.

Several councillors questioned both why the application had now been consented and why the minister had become involved.

Cllr Christine Alexander, who proposed the application be held to seek clarification from Mr Attwood, said the impact on local residents had not been taken into consideration.

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“We are trying to regenerate the town yet these signs are given consent, the views of local residents and objectors clearly haven’t been taken on board,” said Cllr Alexander.

Mr Wilson of the Planning Service revealed they were asked to reassess the application for the sign, which are to double in size compared to the original hoardings on the site, and the increase and visual impact was not considered significant. Councillors voted in favour of Cllr Alexander’s proposal.