PLANS for a large amusement arcade in Derry has been rejected by councillors.
It is the second time the application has come before the council and the second time councillors from across the Derry and Strabane council district have pulled the plug on it.
The proposals for a gambling arcade had been lodged by Derry Amusements and Gaming Ltd.
According to Companies House records, the limited company has a sole director in Patrick McHugh whose address is given as William Street, Derry.
In total, Mr McHugh’s plans to switch his business premises to a large unit in William Street drew 117 objections from locals.
Last week the county court in Derry granted permission for a new gambling arcade in Derry city centre after a judge quashed a council decision to refuse the permit.
Judge Elizabeth McCaffrey said she had a number of concerns with council’s reasons for refusal and granted the appeal.
She ruled the company concerned should be granted the license to open the new gambling arcade at the heart of Derry’s retail district.
Newtownabbey-based Oasis Retail Services had lodged an application with Derry City and Strabane District Council for an amusement permit to open a gaming centre at Unit 23 on Level 2 of the Richmond Centre.
The company had hoped to install 70 gaming machines at the unit, formerly occupied by Dunnes Stores, which has lain empty for the past 14 years.
The unit has an entrance on to Shipquay Street.
However, the application was refused after councillors unanimously voted against it at a meeting of the council’s Health and Community committee in February of last year.
The decision was upheld at a further meeting of the same committee after councillors heard from legal representatives of Oasis Retail Services.
Oasis were given leave to appeal the decision and the company decided to take the matter to court.
A number of councillors and the then Mayor Hilary McClintock gave evidence in the hearing surrounding their decision to reject the proposal.
But McCaffrey has overturned the council’s decision and has allowed Oasis to forge ahead with its plans.
The council could seek a judicial review of Judge McCaffrey’s decision or take it to the Court of Appeal in Belfast.
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