Ben Dunne gets permission for new Galway gym

Businessman Ben Dunne has been given the green light for a new fitness centre in Galway – the decision came the same day that rival gym operator Hector Ó hEochagáin sought to have his objection withdrawn.

The broadcaster’s letter to planners came the week after the Connacht Tribune reported he objected on the grounds of road safety issues, indiscriminate parking and “serious” noise nuisance.

Hector – who used his real name Seán Ó hEochagáin in his correspondence with the City Council – operates his own gym just doors away from the building where Dunne’s gym will be based.

He wrote to planners on August 31 – the day the Council was due to decide on the planning application – and asked for the removal of his objection.

“I am providing this letter in order to disregard my original observation (objection) in relation to a planning application submitted by Ben Dunne Fitness Ireland. I trust that the Council will afford due regard to this letter and the removal of my objection,” he wrote.

Planners replied to say his letter was noted, but they could not remove his objection from the planning file.

“We can’t remove your submission from file, but your intention to disregard observations is noted,” they said.

Units 28, 29, 30 in Briarhill Business Park (near Galway Racecourse) will become the latest premises in the Ben Dunne Gym chain – Hector’s premises is Unit 62.

Planners approved the Ben Dunne application, although they added stipulations in relation to construction work and noise.

Construction activity has been restricted to between 8am and 6pm Monday to Fridays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.

They added: “The operator shall insulate against the transmission of sound and the activities carried out therein and shall ensure that the plant services for the unit shall not make or cause to be made any noise or vibration which is so loud, so continuous or so repeated or of such duration or pitch or at such times as to give reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in any premises in the neighbourhood or to persons lawfully using any public place.”

In the objection which he later sought to withdraw, Hector told planners that the City Development Plan objectives do not automatically infer that planning permission should be granted.

He added that a gym would lead to increased traffic load, indiscriminate parking and a serious noise nuisance.