LISBURN'S Mayor has claimed the city has lost out in �4m of rates revenue because of the delays in granting planning approval for the John Lewis development at Sprucefield.

Councillor Ronnie Crawford said it was now four years since the original application for the scheme was lodged yet it had still not been given the go-ahead, even though up to 1,000 new jobs could be involved.

This is a text book case of how to kill inward investment and the John Lewis Partnership are to be commended for their extreme patience" Mr Crawford

said. As a result of these delays around �4million has been lost to the City of Lisburn by way ,of rates income.

"I am demanding an immediate end to these extraordinar_y delays, which are in stark contrast to the speed with which major planning applications for developments in Belfast have been processed.

Now that the National soccer stadium seems to have been reserved for Belfast by the new DCAL minister, Gregory Campbell we hope that the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Lisburn residents will be realised by the approval of the John Lewis application. "Given the huge loss of revenue to local government resources in Lisburn, I am demanding an inquiry as to why applications for major developments in Lisburn are subjected to such long, costly and protracted delays."

Ulster Star
22/08/2008