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Officials put 'on hold' probes over unauthorised engineering workshop

Residents Raymond Sloan, Carla Fowley and Julie Reid in Mrs Fowley's back garden overlooked by the unauthorised engineering works
Residents Raymond Sloan, Carla Fowley and Julie Reid in Mrs Fowley's back garden overlooked by the unauthorised engineering works Residents Raymond Sloan, Carla Fowley and Julie Reid in Mrs Fowley's back garden overlooked by the unauthorised engineering works

RESIDENTS in Co Tyrone have hit out at authorities for putting "on hold" probes against an unauthorised engineering workshop embroiled in a seven-year planning dispute.

Councillors are to decide next week on a retrospective planning application for Reid Engineering outside Cookstown.

Permission was granted in 2010 for an extended workshop, but it was built over a third larger than agreed, double what it replaced – and allegedly encroaches on a neighbour's garden.

The rural site at Knockanroe Road has been the subject of numerous planning probes, and last year an enforcement notice was issued.

But residents expressed shock after planners recently performed a "U-turn" and recommended the building for retrospective approval despite previously rejecting it.

A decision was deferred in April for a site visit. The case is now due before Mid Ulster council's planning committee on Tuesday.

Resident Carla Fowley said an enforcement notice has been on hold since last year, and issues such as noise complaints have been sidelined because of the planning bid.

"The fact that so many investigations and notices have been placed on hold by various authorities whilst awaiting the decision of these planning applications demonstrates how many loopholes there are in the system," she said.

Supporters say Reid Engineering, which specialises in steel products, is important to the local economy.

But Mrs Fowley said refusing the application would not affect jobs, as the business could still operate within a smaller approved workshop.

"If this is approved, it will demonstrate that there are no deterrents or consequences for not adhering to approvals and it will open the flood gates for similar developments," she said.

Mid Ulster council said enforcement notice action has been put on hold pending the outcome of the current planning application.

It added that environmental health has been "actively investigating" residents' complaints and has made recommendations for consideration at next week's planning committee.