This article is from page 5 of the 2013-06-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
AN Bord Pleanála has approved planning permission to develop outdoor café facilities on O’Connell Street in Ennis.
The Ennis based Duesbury Limited has sought planning permission for the conversion one car parking space at O’Connell Street, Ennis to extended pavement area for out-door seating adjacent to Poet’s Corner/Town Hall. The developer also sought fascia signage and surround to the existing central doorway and incorporation of existing Poet’s Corner porch with main bar area. That part of the Old Ground Hotel is classified as a protected structure.
Ennis Town Council intially granted planning permission with Town Manager Ger Dollard stating that the principle of outdoor seating would “improve the vibrancy and character of the street.”
The Council’s decision was appealed by the owner of the Ennis Cash Company, Oliver Moylan to An Bord Pleanála on a number of grounds, including public safety issues, precedent and the loss of valuable on-street parking space.
In his report, Senior Planning Inspector Keith Sargeant states that O’Connell Street “reflects a good balance of activities between desti- nation shopping, pedestrian movement/street shopping, and vehicular movement”.
He continues; “The satisfactory functioning of O’Connell Street as a road, a street and a place, is clearly finely balanced. However I do not consider the loss of one car parking space would be detrimental to the maintenance of the fine balance. In reality the prospect of a motorist obtaining a parking space on O’Connell Street, at any busy time, is remote.
“Figures in this regard are stated in the Planning Authority response to the current appeal. In contrast the opportunity to enhance the sense of place surrounding “Poet’s Corner” area of the street is an opportunity in the public realm which should not be denied for the sake of one vehicular parking space”.
In granting permission, Mr Sargeant states that the “proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.”
The report states that “the proposed fascia signage and surround to existing door shall be omitted”.
The report continues, “There shall be no retractable canopy or canopies attached to the façade of the building, save with a prior grant of planning permission. Proposed new paving must also match the existing footpath on O’Connell Street.