As is the case so often in local government, not everyone is going to be happy.

On one side are neighbouring residents worried about the noise and traffic should the proposal go ahead.

On the other side is the applicant, Brendan McHugh, who says he and his family just want to start a small business so they can “make a go of it”.

In the middle is the director of environmental, planning and building services David Shaw, whose unenviable job it is to sort the facts from the furphies, the scare tactics from the genuine concerns and come up with a final recommendation.

Then, of course, the councillors have the option to follow that recommendation. Or not.

Councillors have already decided not to follow Mr Shaw’s advice on this matter once before, when they refused earlier in the year to allow the development to proceed.

It followed lobbying by neighbouring residents who were persuasive in explaining how they thought the facility would affect their lives.

So what happens next?

While councillors cannot be blamed for having the best interests of residents at heart – this, after all, is their job – they must be prepared to take the advice of senior staff on complex topics.

It’s hard to imagine anyone at council has done more research into this proposal than Mr Shaw, so it’s natural that he should have the final say.

And he says the proposal should be allowed to proceed – with conditions.

Yes, neighbouring residents who object to the proposal will be disappointed. Yes, some councillors will feel under much pressure as they consider this decision.

But this is a case that should be decided on the facts, and the facts only.

Mr Shaw has considered them, and he has made a recommendation based upon them.

So it’s over to you, councillors.