Tesco decision due

Ballinrobe Tesco decision due

Claire Egan

AN BORD PLEANÁLA will issue a ruling on a planning application by Tesco Ireland Ltd for a retail premises in Ballinrobe later this month.
Planning permission was sought for a single level store with delivery areas, service yard, car parking and recycling facilities, coupled with ancillary works, at Friarsquarter West, Claremorris Road, Ballinrobe in April 2006.
Permission was granted, subject to conditions, by Mayo County Council in April 2007 but was subsequently appealed to the State appeals planning board in May. A full decision will now be issued on January 28.
The proposed development has caused much consternation among local representatives, with Independent councillor, Harry Walsh, voicing strong objections to Tesco, which he said was damaging the ‘livelihood of existing grocers’.
Furthermore, the application also required a material contravention of the town’s decade-old development plan, as Tesco Ireland Ltd were seeking to establish a commercial business in a designated industrial zone.
The UK multi-national retailer has already established four businesses in Mayo, one apiece in Castlebar and Ballina, while two further operations opened in Claremorris and Westport in December.