Rooftop cafe at Ring of Kerry landmark gets green light
An Bord Pleanála turned down an NRA appeal against the development, earmarked for a long-established craft shop and cafe at Ladies’ View, on the Ring of Kerry.
The NRA claimed extra traffic, likely to be generated by the cafe, could create a traffic hazard on the winding, mountain road.
However, the appeals board ruled it would not lead to an intensification of traffic.
Kerry County Council had granted planning to Raymond O’Shea for the 80 sq m development, subject to 11 conditions.
Mr O’Shea’s grandfather started a business on the site, lying between Killarney and Kenmare, in 1937 and the existing single-storey building was constructed in 1969.
Thousands of visitors in touring coaches and cars stop at the location, which commands panoramic views of the Upper Lake, Killarney, and the MacGillycuddy Reeks.
The plan is to convert part of the existing flat roof into a café roof terrace, a change to the structure which has been described as ‘low key’.
The business, overlooking Killarney National Park, is in a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and is listed as a prime amenity landscape.
In considering the appeal, the planning body’s inspector felt the development would not result in a substantial traffic increase but pointed out no tables, or chairs, would be allowed outside at ground level.
If Mr O’Shea wishes to erect advertising signs or banners, he will have to make a separate application.
In relation to any intrusion on the landscape, the inspector said the development was acceptable “given that the views are away from the site rather than towards it”.
It would not be a significant additional element on the landscape and would not interfere with its character.
Also, an effluent treatment system on the site will have to comply with strict planning conditions.
Meanwhile, in a separate planning matter, foul smells from a seaweed processing factory were among the reasons for local appeals against planning permission which had been granted to replace a 15m chimney stack with a 25m stack.
Jerry and Marie Quane, who live a short distance from the Brandon Products factory, near Asdee in north Kerry, claimed the new chimney stack would not resolve the odour problem. They also warned the higher chimney would impact on the landscape.
The council granted permission for the chimney last October, and the company indicated it would introduce new processes for dealing with emissions.
Rejecting the Quanes’ appeal, a Bord Pleanála inspector alluded to high chimney stacks at nearby Tarbert power station and to wind turbines and communications masts in the area, all visible from the factory site.
He concluded that the development would not be visually detrimental.
It affirmed planning with four conditions, pointing to the slender nature and limited height of the new chimney stack and to the company’s proposal to mitigate odour, through the higher chimney and other abatement plant.
The company, which had initially been given planning to use a former creamery as a factory, in 2007, provided an environmental impact statement, in July 2013.
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