Permit granted for Swanpool drive-in movie bid

6:02pm Tuesday 20th May 2008

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The first stage in bid to bring the silver screen to Swanpool has been successful after Carrick council granted a conditional licence for a drive in cinema.

Councillors decided to give Pete Lochrie, who owns Swanpool Beach café and leases the car park next to it from Carrick district council, the permit at a meeting on Thursday, May 15.

The licence allows Mr Lochrie to stage two drive-in film performances at Swanpool car park this summer.

Mr Lochrie still has to gain permission from the car park landlord, Carrick council.

One of the performances is already pencilled in for Friday, August 8, while another scheduled for May is being rearranged for July.

No decision has been made yet what films will be shown but the movies will carry a PG certificate.

Mr Lochrie said: "When I have mention the idea to people their faces light up and they say what a good idea it is.

"I can not say it loudly enough, this event is all about fun.

"It is just two or three hours, twice a year, for kids, mums and dads and teenagers to enjoy a really good fun innocent evening out."

Nearby residents will not have to hear the film, as radio equipment will be used to beam the sound out allowing moviegoers to pick it up on their car stereos.

The application had split opinion locally with a number objections raised by nearby residents.

While Mr Lochrie said he recognises there had been concerns he added a small minority should not be able to spoil the fun for hundreds and the event would be very well and safely run.

Among the conditions applied by the committee were the need for eight marshals and a minimum of three car park attendants to ensure car radios are not played excessively loud.

All licensable activities is to finish by 23:30pm and the committee recommended no power tools are used to dismantle the screen to keep noise to a minimum.

The draft decision also addressed the concerns of residents with police reporting there was no evidence the event would attract antisocial behaviour, despite allegations from objectors.

Allan Lester, of the Gyllyngvase and Swanpool Residents' Association, said he felt there was still a question mark over the event and would not be drawn on whether he was unhappy with the decision.

He said: "The association wrote to Carrick council pointing out there was a certain amount of concern expressed by people living nearby."

He added as far as he understands this is just one stage in the process of getting permission.