Politicians angry as An Bord Pleanála turns down Kilkenny Tesco

Politicians in Kilkenny have reacted with dismay to a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a Tesco store in the county.

They say the store would have created up to 200 jobs and pumped "millions of euro" in wages into the local economy. The decision means Kilkenny will remain the only county in Ireland without a branch of the British supermarket chain which operates 96 shops throughout the other 25 counties in the Republic.

Kilkenny County Council had already approved the rezoning of land and granted planning permission for the store in the town of Callan close to the Tipperary border. The application was submitted by the landowner, Richard Holden, and envisaged a retail outlet of some 26,000 sq ft and car parking for 243 cars. But objections from the owners of the town's existing Super-Valu supermarket and one local resident were lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

The board yesterday said it had refused permission because the proposed development "on an important site at the entry to Callan" would be "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area"; would "seriously injure the visual amenities of the area"; and, would "seriously injure the amenities of adjoining residential properties".

However, the chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Tom Maher (FG) said he was "extremely disappointed" and claimed the "vast majority of people" want the store. Apart from "up to 120 permanent jobs", he said the project would have created "up to 60 temporary construction jobs".

He added that shoppers were forced to travel "at great inconvenience" to Tesco stores in neighbouring counties and would "continue to do so" to the detriment of Kilkenny's economy.

Cllr Matt Doran (FF) was "absolutely disgusted and hugely disappointed" that the town would lose out on the estimated €2.5 million in annual wages which would have been paid. He deplored a decision made by "a body of people [ An Bord Pleanála] from outside of the area who have no idea about the social and economic issues involved".

He said "Callan needs a store like Tesco in order to survive". Mr Doran called on people "to lobby the media, public representatives and Tesco" to ensure that the company did not give up on the town.

Séamus Banim, a spokesman for Tesco Ireland, said the company would not comment until it had an opportunity to review the decision. The company claims its activities are worth an annual €2.5 billion to the economy.

Tesco employs over 13,000 people in Ireland and provides a further "10,000 jobs in supplier firms" and "4,000 plus jobs are supported directly by exports of Irish products".

Michael Parsons
The Irish Times

www.buckplanning.ie

Local appeal fails to clear way for Tesco plan

DESPITE huge public support in north Kerry for a new Tesco supermarket in Listowel, An Bord Pleanála has rejected plans by the retail giant to open in the town.

Listowel mayor Pat Loughnane yesterday said locals were very disappointed, pointing out that a petition with 1,500 signatures had been gathered in support of the retail chain’s plans.

Tesco’s proposal was to build a 4,000sq ft (1,220sq m) store on a greenfield Ballybunion Road site.

Listowel Town Council had granted planning permission, but the application was forwarded to An Bord Pleanála after submissions were made by RGDATA, the retailers’ lobby group, and the Garvey group, which has a supermarket in Listowel.

The Garvey Group maintained that any out-of-town developments would hinder the progress of the town centre.

An Bord Pleanála said the development would be on a site 800 metres from the town centre and its location would conflict with a policy which favoured the siting of retail development in town centres.

It also said the proposed development would represent poor-quality development in terms of visual amenity.

But mayor Pat Loughnane said there wasn’t a town centre site available that would accommodate a supermarket.

In a statement, the Garvey Group said the planning process was very transparent and ensured all applicants were fairly treated.

Meanwhile, Tesco is still awaiting a decision from An Bord Pleanála on its plans to open a 2,480sq m supermarket on the Limerick Road, Castleisland. In February, Kerry County Council voted against a material contravention of the local area plan for Castleisland which would have cleared the way for a planning application by Tesco.

An appeal was then lodged with An Bord Pleanála by Tesco.

Castleisland FG councillor Bobby O’Connell, a strong supporter of the Tesco plan, said there was massive support in the Castleisland area for the plan.

Irish Examiner

Tesco fails in rezone bid for new store

RETAIL giant Tesco Ireland has failed in its bid to open a store in the only county currently without one of its outlets.
Frustrated county councillors have voted against rezoning a plot of land in Kilkenny which would have given Tesco a presence in every county in the State.
A number of councillors voted against a material contravention to their county development plan in protest after officials refused to allow a debate on the issue at a recent council meeting.
A planning application by Tesco Ireland for a large store outside Callan, Co Kilkenny, which would have created 100 jobs, has now been withdrawn and the company says it is reviewing its options with regard to Kilkenny.
The vote, which was expected to be carried unanimously, was rejected after councillors failed to return a three-quarters majority in favour of rezoning for the store.
Disarray
The process was thrown into further disarray after three councillors went missing from the meeting as the vote was being held.
Two councillors abstained after Green Party councillor Malcolm Noonan was refused an open debate on the Tesco proposal.
Mr Noonan claimed he was not allowed to give his opinion on the issue and voted against rezoning the land at Callan on "ideological grounds".
"'This is about protecting the core of rural communities," said Mr Noonan.
wA spokesperson for Tesco Ireland told the Irish Independent: "We are reviewing our options with regard to Callan and Kilkenny".
It is expected that a fresh application by Tesco Ireland will come before the council in the coming months.
Dara deFaoite
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