Council say man will not face €12m shutter fine

LISTOWEL Town Council yesterday rubbished suggestions a local businessman could be fined €12.6 million for erecting a shop front and shutters without planning permission.

Jeweller Denis O’Shea had claimed a “ridiculous’’ situation had arisen simply because he had done something to secure his premises at Main Street, Listowel.

But, a council spokesman said there was no way Mr O’Shea could ever be fined such a mammoth sum under the Planning Acts.

“Fines of the multi-million euro scale are only for major unauthorised developments such as dumps, or large housing estates,’’ the spokesman said.

“In a situation such as Mr O’Shea’s, the fine on summary conviction could not exceed €1,500. But, if he kept going with a development, the fine would keep going up and up.

“Mr O’Shea has been sent two, or three, warning letters, as have other people in Listowel. He can now make a planning application for retention of the shutters,’’ the spokesman went on.

The council has ordered Mr O’Shea to remove the shutters and a new shop frontage from his Main Street premises.

Yesterday, he confirmed he would apply for planning permission for retention, but said could not understand why the council was coming down so heavily on him.

“When I relocated to this premises, last September, the first thing I had to do was to protect and secure it. I could not wait for a planning application,’’ he said.

“My first priority was to ensure there was proper security in the premises and then work on the planning.’’

Mr O’Shea said the shutters were of a standard type for jewellers, with a high gloss black finish, and did not constitute an eyesore.

“You can see these shutters all over the country. There are similar shutters on a jewellery two doors away from me and also on a bank in Listowel,’’ he maintained.

Mr O’Shea was he was distressed by the way the council was dealing with the matter.

“I don’t agree with the claim that the shop front and shutters are detracting from Listowel’s status as a heritage town. I took great care to ensure the work was done in an inoffensive and traditional way,’’ he claimed.