A decision to grant planning permission for a new bar and extension to a Letterkenny licenced premises has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala (ABP).
In April, Donegal County Council gave the green light to the owners of the popular Central Bar on Upper Main Street to expand into a disused commercial premises next door.
The applicants, Michael and Mark Blaney, were seeking to make a series of extensive conversion works.
The proposed works include a new rear extension to the neighbouring commercial premises and a new side extension of the existing Central Bar and Lounge would form a new bar, lounge, kitchen, and accessible toilet facilities.
The development would also involve the conversion of existing office space into an off-licence area and the construction of a new external smoking area.
However, an appeal against the council’s decision was lodged with ABP last week by planning consultant, Gerard Convie.
According to planning documents, he says the Blaney’s proposal may fulfil some of the objectives of the Letterkenny Town Plan. But, he argues, their plan ‘fails in some aspects’ of ‘some of the other objectives’ of the town plan.
While the plans refer to a refurbishment and extension, he claims ‘the real intention’ was to convert the Central into a nightclub.
Mr Convey cites that the best way to tackle dereliction in town centres is to introduce more residential development.
“Is this the best use of the subject vacant property on the main street of our county’s major town as use for yet another licenced premises,” he asks.
He adds there are already eight licenced premises on Letterkenny’s main thoroughfare and there is no mention of external signage in the new application.
Mr Convie refers to ‘badly designed’ neon signs which have resulted in ‘monstrosities’ containing similar bars on the lower end of the main street.
He also objected on a number of technical grounds, including wastewater treatment and transport.
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