Bookie hits the jackpot as plan for Westside shop approved

An objector to satellite dishes over a proposed bookmaker’s office in the Westside has lost his appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

The satellite dishes over a proposed bookmakers on Seamus Quirke Road to receive transmit live action from racecourses for the benefit of punters.

It was argued that the dishes would be unsightly, but the operators of the proposed new Paddy Power outlet said that they would be appropriately screened.

Last January, city planners granted permission for the erection of four satellite dishes and three condenser units on the flat roof of the betting office at 72 Seamus Quirke Road – the block which currently houses Fine Wines and a Cancer Care West centre.

But this decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Marc Dray, from Ashthorn Avenue in Headford on the basis that the equipment would “stick out like a sore thumb”.

The location of the bookmakers is part of a three-storey building with retail space on the ground flood and office space above.

According to the planning file, the retail unit was occupied by Bar One Betting who since vacated it. It is proposed to provide a glazed screen to cover the satellite dishes.

The applicants stated that it was necessary to provide this equipment as it was critical to the running of all of their betting offices. There is equipment on the roof at the moment which is unauthorised and the applicants have given an undertaking to remove it.

In his appeal, Mr Dray took issue with the erection of the screen. He said that the building would become an eyesore if the dishes and condenser units and signage were permitted. He believed that fibre optic networking could be used instead.

He said that the proposed screening would alter the shape and appearance of the building and it would be clear that it was an “add on”. It would also stick out like a sore thumb.

“The green background to the signs and the number of signs would be excessive for the location – one to the front is sufficient and less visually obtrusive to pedestrians and motorists,” he said.

In response, the applicants said that the appeal was vexatious, frivolous and commercially motivated with the intent of delaying the development.

It was claimed in the response that the appellant was a betting shop manager in a rival bookies. The applicants refuted that the proposed development would visually distract from the building.

An Bord Pleanála said the development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area and upheld the Council’s decision.