Northern Ireland

Glens of Antrim hotel owner says weekend closure of Coast Road for resurfacing `utterly devastating' for business

Denise O'Neill, who owns the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough, said the weekend closures on the Coast Road have been "utterly devastating" for her business. Picture by Mal McCann
Denise O'Neill, who owns the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough, said the weekend closures on the Coast Road have been "utterly devastating" for her business. Picture by Mal McCann Denise O'Neill, who owns the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough, said the weekend closures on the Coast Road have been "utterly devastating" for her business. Picture by Mal McCann

THE owner of a well-known Co Antrim hotel has said a decision to close a main road for resurfacing work over three consecutive weekends has been "utterly devastating" for her business.

Denise O'Neill, who runs the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough, had asked road chiefs to reconsider the scheduled closures of the Garron Road on the world famous Causeway Coastal Route but said her request was turned down.

The road, which closed between 7am and 6pm last Saturday and Sunday, also faces the same restrictions over the next two weekends.

The resurfacing work began just as the 35-bedroom hotel was emerging from a 240 day-closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Built in 1848 as a coaching inn by the Marchioness of Londonderry, the hotel was also once owned by her descendant Winston Churchill.

It was later sold to the Lyons family in 1934 while the O'Neills took it over in 1947.

During the Second World War the hotel was commissioned by the British army to allow for the recuperation of wounded soldiers.

Mrs O'Neill said when customers became aware of the road closure plans many cancelled.

"As guests and customers became aware of the said road closure the hotel was faced with an increasing avalanche of cancellations," she said.

"Visitors that made it through the diversion from Ballycastle were ringing the hotel for advice and re-assurance."

Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.
Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann. Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.

She said the hotel's "unique selling point" is its location - on the Causeway Coastal Route, halfway between Belfast and the Giant's Causeway, and attractions of the North Coast.

The hotelier had asked Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon "to rearrange/postpone the planned resurfacing work at Garron Road over the next two weekends" fearing the road works spell disaster for the hospitality sector in the area.

"These are not normal times, we are struggling for economic survival particularly in a rural coastal village such as Carnlough where tourism is a major source of employment," she said.

"The consequences of this programme of work not being overturned are extreme."

Mrs O'Neill said while she accepted the decision, she hoped this issue would "highlight the need for government departments and organisations to be more joined up in their planning and that that the needs of local businesses impacted by such decisions will be considered."

Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.
Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann. Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.

A spokesman for the Department for Infrastructure said it "accepts that the closure is causing disruption for local businesses, particularly given the lengthy diversion routes and we apologise for the inconvenience caused".

However, he added that having reviewed its approach to the planned works it remained "the view that weekend closures are the best option as this reduces the impact on school and local commuter traffic during the week.

"The works are scheduled to be completed before the peak summer period of July/August and revoking the closure and deferring resurfacing at this stage runs the risk of leaving an unfinished road with temporary traffic control measures, potentially for a considerable period of time, during a period when traffic levels on the road are expected to rise over the summer months".

Denise O'Neill Owner of The Londonderry Arms Hotel. Picture by Mal McCann.
Denise O'Neill Owner of The Londonderry Arms Hotel. Picture by Mal McCann. Denise O'Neill Owner of The Londonderry Arms Hotel. Picture by Mal McCann.
Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.
Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann. Business owners are angry that the Antrim coast Road between Carnlough and Waterfoot that is to be closed on consecutive weekends. Picture by Mal McCann.