Councillors pave way for new Athenry supermarket

County councillors have paved the way for a new discount supermarket in the centre of Athenry, after a majority vote in favour of an ‘exception’ to zoning regulations.

Last February, a planning application was lodged by local butcher John Joe Brady for a single-storey foodstore (to include off-licence use) off Church Street, which would have a net floor area of just under 19,000 square feet.

It is not known whether Mr Brady plans to operate the business himself – the square footage falls exactly within the requirements of German retailers Aldi and Lidl.

At a local authority meeting this week, councillors voted in favour of a Material Contravention to the Athenry Local Area Plan 2012 – 2018 which would allow the discount foodstore application go ahead on the site which is zoned for Business and Enterprise use.

The application on the two-and-a-half acre site must now be assessed by planning officials.

Bringing the Material Contravention before the councillors at a local authority meeting this week, Director of Services for planning, Catherine McConnell, said adjoining lands are zoned for Town Centre mixed-use; Irish Water said it could be accommodated and the Conservation Officer and Heritage Officer have no problem with it.

She said there were submissions in favour of the development; that it would increase the vitality of the town and provide further access to the town walls, while objectors voiced concerns about an adverse retail impact and sewerage issues.

She said the Council’s recommendation was that the Material Contravention should be passed.

Local area councillor Peter Feeney (FG) said: “It’s almost the last chance today to give Athenry the kick-start it needs to revitalise the centre. We all know the effect the recession have had on our towns. This proposal has massive support in Athenry and the hard-pressed businesspeople of the town centre.

“The centre of Athenry has been devastated by a change in retail trend – people are now shopping out of town in big supermarkets. Ten or fifteen years ago, you could walk down any street and buy a pint of milk. Now there are about two places.

“This won’t rebalance that, but will allow people to come in and do major shopping in the town centre and call to other businesses.

“I only remember three or four Material Contraventions in my ten years on the Council. It is one of the very last chances to develop a meaningful retail store in the town, and just a two-minute walk from the Square.

Gabe Cronnelly (SF) said the Brady family have been in business in the town since 1926.

“We’ve had 24 businesses in Athlone close down in the last four or five years, and three have opened. We’re getting Apple, we need this as well. Over 2,000 people in Athenry have signed a petition. That’s telling you what Athenry needs,” said Cllr Cronnelly.

However, it emerged later in the debate that the ‘petition’ was actually a Facebook page.

“Facebook comments have no place in planning,” quipped FG party whip Jimmy McClearn.

Cllr Shaun Cunniffe (Ind) pointed out that Arrabawn have lodged similar plans for a discount foodstore on their site in the town.

Tom Healy (SF) said he knew that in Clifden’s case, footfall had increased when the new supermarkets opened, and people no longer had to go to Galway for a week’s shopping.

“It’s improved the economy and our relationship with people from Carna, Cashel, Rosmuc and South Connemara,” he said.

Tim Broderick (Ind) said he had not seen any projections as to stores the development would bring to the town, and he was not satisfied there is sufficient business there to justify it, therefore he opposed it.

Cllr Michael Connolly (FF) said he said there was a need for this type of development – opposite the church, closed to the Galway-Roscommon Education & Training Board offices, residential developments and the railway track.

Responding to queries about the Arrabawn proposal, Cllr Feeney said the company runs a very successful business and had no intention of leaving Athenry.

They proposed to move their existing machinery depot to an out-of-town site, and build a discount foodstore on their existing site.

“With all due respects, there are a lot of steps along that route and a timescale of three or four years between planning, appeals, acquiring a new site, building and occupying,” said Cllr Feeney.

Ms McConnell said: “On merit and on balance, it is a positive contribution for Athenry. The town is significantly underprovided for in terms of convenience retailing; there is a significant leakage of spending into Oranmore and Galway. There is room for at least another supermarket.”

She added that previous applications for the Brady site were of much larger and poorer quality design, but the current proposal would add to the amenities of the town, open up views and walkways and attract boutiques, shoe shops hardware stores etc to the town centre.

Ms McConnell said she did now know if the Arrabawn proposal would proceed, but the Council believes that in terms of retail spend, Athenry is significantly below where it could be.

Cllr Broderick replied: “It would be a nail in the coffin of small businesses, are we now supporting that?”

Council Chief Executive Kevin Kelly said what might happen in the future (with the Arrabawn site) was not a matter for the councillors.

He said the Brady proposal has received a lot of consideration and has been 18 months in gestation.

The Contravention was carried by 31 votes to 3 (Shaun Cunniffe, Michael Finnerty and Tim Broderick opposing).

A decision on the actual planning application is now expected in May.