Approval recommended for two new fast food outlets at former filling station

The family business was first opened in 1998 but in recent years it outgrew its old premises and the decision was made to relocate to a bigger site.

Now the former supermarket attached to the old Fruitfield Filling Station, which closed after the new Eurospar Reids Farm Foodhall opened, will be redeveloped.

Fruitfield Foodhall is owned by brother and sister, Gary Reid and Joanne Gourley, and their father, Eric Reid.

It is in the latter’s name that the plan to create two side-by-side fast food outlets – with seating available in informal dining areas – were submitted.

Mr Reid told Armagh I that he’s delighted permission has finally been granted.

“It’ll be great to offer the local people more choice and will be great to have more people around the premises,” he said. “This is an exciting opportunity and hopefully I have no doubt it will be beneficial to the area as a whole.”

Part of the basement will be converted into a food preparation area.

While environmental health officials had raised concerns in relation to night time noise disturbance caused by traffic and people coming to the new fast food outlets, it suggested a condition restricting hours of operation be imposed.

It suggested that the premises not be permitted to open after 11pm and before 7am.

The developer’s team, however, have suggested that, should the need arise to open beyond that, perhaps as late as 1am, this could be facilitated through the provision of an access gate to Sleepy Valley, which could be closed at 11pm to ensure traffic enter via the main access.

A professional planning consultant’s report was also forwarded to council officials for consideration which states the case for the need for this type of development.

It says the applicant’s wish was to extend the catering facilities available at the petrol filling station site to “provide for a variety of catering tastes in addition to the restaurant already operating alongside the new supermarket”.

It adds: “The proposal is to make use of an existing building with adequate car parking and good access and with no new visual impact.

“It will supply a catering need complementing the existing restaurant, giving further choice along the trunk road as part of a recognised multi-purpose roadside service facility already popular with motorists and truck drivers, with the latter’s access and specific parking requirements already provided for within the site.”