Anna-Marie Flynn
THE three-year saga surrounding Tesco Ireland’s relocation plans for a multi-million euro store in Ballina has come to an end.
Plans for the purpose-built store at the Stephenites/Showgrounds site, which was first proposed in 2005, were withdrawn last week, after the applicant failed to provide further information requested by planners on numerous occasions.
A spokesperson for the Ballina Town Council planning department told The Mayo News that the process was a lengthy one that came to an end at the beginning of the month. “We requested clarification in July 2006 and wrote a letter in April to say that all further information had to be in by the final deadline of May 30. If this was not carried out the application would be deemed withdrawn. Tesco failed to submit anything further by way of correspondence so the application has now been formally withdrawn.”
The level eight facility, with parking provision for almost 500 cars, was tipped to be four times the size of the existing Market Square store, and in line with Tesco templates, the development was to build on its ease-of-parking appeal.
An application for a single-storey unit of 6,703 square meters, including a café and off-licence, was originally submitted in the name of Ballina Stephenites GAA Club in September 2005 for the 13.5-hectare site on lands bordered by Kevin Barry Street and Lord Edward Street. The site incorporated both the Stephenites’ and Showgrounds’ lands.
Further information was requested in 2006 to be submitted before January 2007 and several times since that date. Almost 18 months later, the information, said to have related to traffic and access elements, had not been received and the applicant was issued with a final request.
Mayor Padraig Moore said he was ‘disappointed’ with the news of the withdrawal.
“Hopefully this will not spell the end of Tesco’s plans for Ballina. They have recently refurbished their existing shop but we would hope that is just a temporary measure, and they will soon see sense to return to Ballina with alternative plans for a suitable site,” he said.
Chamber of Commerce CEO, Sandra Cribben, said the news does not reflect a lack of commitment by Tesco to the town.
“The Chamber does not doubt that this company has laid down very strong roots in Ballina and is completely committed to the local business provided by the region,” she said.
