Council to debate motion to save Bewleys-type premises

Dublin City Council is due to debate a motion tonight aimed at changing the planning laws to protect business premises like Bewleys cafes.

The motion is designed to reform the "rental regime" in Dublin and to restrict the future use of premises like Bewleys to prevent them from being taken over by chain stores.

Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan, who has tabled the motion, said Dublin was in danger of becoming "indistinguishable from any other shopping area in Europe".