Chipper under threat as Council demands removal from mart

The chips may be down for hungry farmers after Galway County Council moved to close a chipper that has been operating outside a Connemara mart for the last year and a half.

The matter has now been referred to An Bord Pleanala who will rule within the next four months if planning permission is required for the chip van outside the mart.

It is owned and run by local photographer Mark Furniss who has been involved in the fast food business for more than a decade in Clifden.

He has been operating outside the mart in Clifden four evenings each week for the past 18 months – and despite operating within the confines of the mart property, Galway County Council want him to cease trading.

Mr Furniss received correspondence from Galway County Council early last month informing him that the current situation could not continue indefinitely and that he should comply with an enforcement notice issued in November for him to cease trading on the mart grounds immediately.

The Council warned that failure to do so would leave the planning authority with no alternative but to issue legal proceedings. The matter has now been referred to An Bord Pleanala who will rule is planning is required for the chipper – which is appropriately called The Chipper.

Mr Furniss has been trading in Clifden since 2004. “Initially I was trading in the centre of Clifden, seven days a week for five years.

“In order to trade on any state owned areas such as public roads or designated trading bays requires a Casual Trading Licence granted by the local authority, which is how I was able to trade legally in the centre of town for this length of time.

“Business was reasonably successful and I had great trade from tourists and locals alike. Unfortunately, in April 2009 I was informed by Galway County Council that they had made a mistake for the previous five years.

“Due to local bye-laws casual trading licences could only be granted between the hours of 10.30am and 6pm on Fridays only. My licence was revoked and I was ordered to stop trading within 24 hours or face the consequences,” he told The Connacht Tribune.

He described it as a huge setback as it was the main source of income.

“I am HSE registered and fully insured and under the assumption that this is all that is required to trade legally on private property. After all, I trade on many different properties at different events throughout the year,” he explained.

The issue will be decided by An Bord Pleanala by April.