Schools object to plans by McDonald’s to open nearby

Three schools in the Wicklow town of Greystones have put on hold plans by McDonald’s to build a new fast food outlet there.

Last month, in the face of widespread local opposition, Wicklow County Council gave the green light to the fast food giant to construct a new drive-thru restaurant at the Blacklion centre in Greystones.

In response to the decision, the boards of management of three nearby schools, Temple Carrig Secondary School, Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath and the Greystones Educate Together have lodged appeals to An Bord Pleanála.

In all, nine appeals have been lodged including one from McDonald’s against a condition of planning.

Liam Friel of the board of the Greystones Educate Together School said the location for the fast food outlet is unsuitable due to its proximity to the three schools which will have a student population of 1,800 when fully operational.

One of those to lodge objections against the plan while it was before Wicklow County Council was minister for state at the Department of Finance, Simon Harris. He said Ireland has a high childhood obesity level that is well documented.

He said Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald stated in March 2014 that an exclusion zone for fast food restaurants around schools and playgrounds was under consideration to tackle the national battle against obesity.

In its submission to the council, McDonald’s said the development will provide an enhanced range of services within the Blacklion centre to support the growing local community in the north Greystones area and will complete the development of the centre.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make its ruling on the appeal later this year.

Meanwhile, late night revellers in Dublin’s Temple Bar will have to go elsewhere to get their Big Macs after the appeals board refused planning permission to McDonald’s to extend its opening hours there to 3am every morning. Currently, people can buy food there until midnight.

In its application, McDonald’s was seeking to level the playing field against its local competitors pointing out that there are a number of takeaway restaurants already providing late-night service in that area.

They include Supermacs, which operates until 2.30am from Monday to Wednesday and 4.30am from Thursday to Sunday; Abrakebabra that operates until 3am; and Leo Burdocks that operates until 4am from Thursday to Saturday.

However, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed extension of opening hours “would seriously injure the amenities and depreciate the value of residential properties in the vicinity by virtue of additional noise and general disturbance”.

It said a decision to grant permission would be contrary to the zoning of the current development plan for the area “which seeks a balance between uses and the protection of city centre communities through, inter alia, restrictions on hours of operation”.

It said it had regard to the significant duration and the late night/early morning timing of the proposed extended period and the existing pattern of development in an area which includes a high concentration of bar, restaurant and nightclub uses that give rise to injurious impacts on residential amenities by reason of noise and general disturbance.