Broughshane Road, Ballymena, has been one of the town’s premier residential thoroughfares for more than a century. The houses, which stretch along both sides of the road were mainly built at a time when gardens were big, leafy and private and when architectural practice dictated that no two dwellings should look the same.

Now residents are concerned that a planning application, which appeared in the press just this week, proposing a ‘radical’ change of use of a Church related charity shop at the former Parish centre at Kenbaan House, will have an adverse affect on the area.

The application seeks permission to replace what was, in the words of one angry resident, a ‘small scale charity operation linked to Parish activities’ into a fully fledged funeral director’s premises.

This would include reception area, office, toilet, display and sales area, rest room and associated ‘external utility area’.

“We first became aware of this more than a month ago when a huge sign was erected without Planning Permission at the site.

“Now we’ve received letters asking for our comments from the Planning Service and there is significant concern amongst local residents that approval of the plan could merely be the thin end of a business development wedge.

“We will oppose any scheme which would change the very nature of this long established residential area and some Parishioner Residents are concerned that a Charity Shop which is in the process of being moved into the new Parish Centre on the Cushendall Road should be used a vehicle for establishing a Commercial Enterprise by a private individual on Parish owned property’” he said.

It is understood steps are being taken by the Residents to ‘vigorously oppose the application’.