THE famous Limelight Club in Glenties is to be turned into a shop and off licence.
A planning application has been approved by Donegal County Council and An Bord Pleanála to transform the former club into a retail unit despite an objection.
The derelict club was bought in 2014 at a public auction for €185,000.
KLH Trading DCC submitted the application with Donegal County Council in December 2015, and was approved following an inspection carried out by an official from An Bord Pleanála.
The inspector granted planning permission under the condition that the development must function as a retail and off-license unit, as per their application. The inspector said that this new unit will “contribute to the vitality and viability of the town of Glenties by supporting the mixed use function of the town centre”.
However, this decision was challenged by Harley Newman Planning Consultants on behalf of Darren Melly.
The chief argument of that appeal was the fear that the new retail unit will “impact on the vitality or viability of the town centre”, and that there are already four convenience retail outlets in the town centre.
The appellant also feels as though there will be inadequate parking for people using the new retail unit and he has also raised concerns over how accessible the area will be to large delivery lorries.
Donegal County Council responded to this appeal by saying that the new retail unit will actually compliment the existing range of retail activity and will not conflict with the County Development Plan.
They also added that Glenties main street can “cater for delivery traffic without added or undue traffic disruption” and that the “former use would have necessitated such delivery traffic and no additional traffic issues are likely”.
Tags:
