An application for a drive-in cinema in Carryduff has been granted amid objections from local residents.
Councillors unanimously approved the decision at Lisburn Castlereagh City Council’s Environmental Services Committee on April 7.
Last month a representative in objection to the license outlined their reasoning for the complaint.
Objectors said traffic congestion on the Saintfield Road caused “huge issues” for local residents, while complaints were also made over air pollution, noise and lighting from a large LED outdoor cinema screen being reflected in local homes.
Let’s Go Hydro applied for the Annual Outdoor License in October last year, but said last month they currently had ‘no plans for an event at present’ in line with the current Covid-19 regulations.
The approved application comes after a successful period for the activity-based business last year, with thousands of people attending the drive-in cinema during lockdown.
Following a number of queries to council officials, Environmental Services brought a full report back before the committee next month before the full decision was ratified.
At Wednesday’s meeting, head of Environmental Health Richard Harvey said a number of special conditions had been included in the license.
Mr Harvey said four out-of-hours inspections had been carried out at the site previously when it was operational and officers found there was “no nuisance” in regards to noise or light.
Council officers added due to the location of the car park and how close it was to the Saintfield Road the venue ‘would not be suitable for a general Entertainment License to include open music or entertainment’.
The PSNI also wrote to Lisburn Castlereagh City Council and said they currently had no objections in regards to the license.
Other conditions included the closure of drive-in events at 11pm, no more than 200 cars, no extraneous light pollution, no excess noise from cars including horning and all sound must be relayed through car radio frequencies.
Let’s Go Hydro must also not have more than 28 events at the site within a one year period and would need to seek planning permission to do so.
Meanwhile, the British Board of Film Censors and the UK Cinema Association said if the drive-in cinema could not prevent the wider public from viewing film rate over 18 then they should ‘refrain from showing them at all’.
Alliance councillor Sorcha Eastwood said in March she had concerns “inappropriate material” was being seen by local children outside of the resort, particularity children.
Mr Harvey also confirmed all drive-in events must cease at the car parks facility if other operations at the site resume.
In the paper brought before council members, officers said that if services such as the facilities waterpark was to reopen as restrictions eased then ‘it would not be feasible to use the site as a drive-in cinema’.
Alderman Michael Henderson proposed the application, while councillor Tim Mitchell seconded.
The license was granted for a period of six months.
