Council gives thumbs down to supermarket
Ironically, they rubber-stamped a similar application from Tesco for Kanturk, despite some local opposition.
County manager Maurice Moloney said that a retail study of Charleville, undertaken by the local authority, had shown €34 million a year was being lost to the town through locals shopping elsewhere. He said the loss in Kanturk was estimated at €14.4m.
“The retail assessment shows there is serious leakage to other centres,” Mr Moloney said and he strongly urged councillors to support the applications, which were also endorsed by other senior officials on the council.
Cllr Michael Donegan (FF) said Charleville was experiencing serious traffic problems and he didn’t feel it was wise to allow Tesco build a 1,998 sq metre store at Rathgoggan Middle until a bypass was built - which is at least 10 years away.
In addition, he pointed out that Lidl was set to open a supermarket in the town later this week and Dunnes Stores had just secured planning permission for another outlet.
Cllr Pat Buckley (FG) said both towns had lost a considerable number of shoppers to Mallow and the Blackpool Shopping Centre in Cork.
“We must try and attract people back. The people of Kanturk need choice. The only monopoly there at the moment is Centra or SuperValu,” Mr Buckley said.
Cllr Alan Coleman (FF) said competition was good for shoppers while his party colleague, Cllr Frank O’Flynn, said Tesco’s decision to open in Mitchelstown had proved a huge boost for the town.
Mr Moloney said that towns which progressed would allow open trade and he cited Youghal, Mitchelstown and Clonakilty as examples of forward thinking.
A 75% majority was needed on each vote to contravene the County Development Plan, which would then, in turn, have allowed Tesco to proceed with its projects.
A total of 38 councillors voted in favour of Tesco building a 1,540 sq metre supermarket, with a 165-space car park at a site near Strand Street, Kanturk. There were just four votes against.
However, the picture was distinctly different when it came to the Charleville vote. There were 27 votes in favour and 16 against, so this project was not approved.
