Plans approved for new drive through coffee shop and petrol station on Derry's Strand Road

Derry City and Strabane Council has given the greenlight to a new drive through coffee shop, restaurant and 24 hour petrol station on Strand Road.

Go Coffee will serve coffee and food and have a five pump, unmanned petrol station called Go.

The application was approved at the council's Planning Committee meeting last Wednesday.

It will also contain an air and water service area, underground storage tanks, and a two-storey drive through restaurant, on the vacant site in front of KFC.

The council officers' recommendation was to refuse the application.

“Having considered all relevant material planning considerations including the local plan, the regional planning policies, consultation replies and third party representations, it is recommended that the proposed development is refused on the basis that is contrary to policy,” they said.

“Development in Proximity to Reservoirs – DfI Rivers reservoir inundation maps indicate that this site is in a potential area of inundation emanating from Creggan Upper & Lower Reservoirs.

“It has not been demonstrated to DfI Rivers that the condition, management and maintenance regime of Creggan Upper & Lower Reservoirs is appropriate to provide sufficient assurance regarding reservoir safety so as to enable the development to proceed, as required under Policy FLD 5.”

DfI Rivers considers it to be at an ‘unacceptable combination of depth and velocity for this particular development proposal’ in terms of flooding.

Agent for the applicant Tom Stokes said the issue did not prevented another recent application being approved.

“It must be said that this is not an issue unique to this site. It is in an area that forms part of the city central zone and contributes a significant amount to this city’s existing employment and future economic growth potential,” he said.

“We have submitted a flood risk assessment that has taken full account of the risks of there being an uncontrolled release of water from the upper Creggan reservoir.

“However it is due to the fact that there is no agreement on the condition, management and maintenance of the reservoir at this time that this is totally out of our control and we understand that this was the same committee that was advised in July that this is close to a resolution when considering a planning application for an apartment proposal.”

The construction phase of the £5m development will create 30 jobs.

An objector raised her concerns at the meeting.

“Why would we need another two storey drive through takeaway? I know Boy racers sit at McDonald’s at night. I have also had to get out of bed at two, three or four o’clock in the morning, and go down to KFC because that's where they're sitting with their music, their lights and their revving,” she said.

She says she smells the petrol from the 'boy racers' when they rev their engines.

Councillor Grace Uí Niallais proposed that council overtuned the officers' recommendation on the basis that 'there has been no other statutory consultee objections into this planning application apart from FLD 5'.

Alderman Derek Hussey seconded the proposal because 'FLD 5 is being looked at and will be dealt with'.