Cork County Council wants planning exemption for canopies and awnings to help businesses get back on track

People will have to queue in the bad weather, warned Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan.

Cllr Gobnait Moynihan received unanimous support from colleagues for the proposal.Picture: David Keane.

Cork County Council is to ask the Department of Environment to make awnings and canopies exempt from planning permission as businesses "will need them more than ever during a Covid-19 winter."

Councillors have also asked their architects, planning and heritage departments to look at what's available on the market and come up with a uniformity of such coverings which may suit certain towns.