Rival operator appeals plans for extension to the Eye Cinema

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against the City Council’s decision to approve plans to extend the Eye Cinema in Wellpark to include almost 200 seats in four new ‘boutique’ screens.

Eye Cinema owner Gerry Barrett had sought permission for a change of use of around 1,100 square metres of vacant retail and restaurant space in the Wellpark Retail Park (adjacent to the cinema) to a boutique cinema with four screens, a restaurant and bar.

However, an objection was lodged by Suzanne O’Neill with a residential address in Rathfarnham, Dublin, on the grounds that the road network in the area would not be able to cope with the increase in footfall, and that it could jeopardise the new Picture Palace arthouse cinema in the city centre.

Submissions on planning applications must be accompanied by a €20 administration fee – documents in the planning file show the receipt for the fee with Ms O’Neill’s objection was issued to ‘Galway Multiplex’, which operates the IMC Cinema on the Headford Road.

Ms O’Neill’s objection reads: “I have examined the plans and I know the site well. I wish to object to the development on the following grounds:
■ The road infrastructure is inadequate for the additional footfall expected;
■ The proposed plan is an over-intensification of the area;
■ It will undermine future development of the core town and new arts cinema.”

It will bring the total number of screens in the Eye to 13, while the IMC has eleven.

There will be a total of 194 seats in the Eye extension – Screen A will have 61 seats; Screen B 56 seats; Screen C 50 seats and Screen D 27 seats.

In their decision, city planners wrote: “It is considered that there is sufficient carparking and infrastructure capacity within and around the Wellpark Retail Centre to accommodate the proposed development and the objection to the proposal is unfounded. The proposal will therefore not give rise to any issues relating to traffic and pedestrian safety.

“The proposal satisfies parking requirements and it is considered that the change of use will not be detrimental to the existing uses in close proximity to the application site,” planners said.

Ms O’Neill has now appealed the Council decision.