18 September 2012

Dear Resident,

On the site of the Old Renault Garage on Douglas Road, opposite St Finbarr’s Hospital, a planning application is currently before the planners in Cork City Council; the application comprises the change of use of the existing buildings into a Tesco Express, a pharmacy and an off-licence.

For my part, I support the concerns of local residents who have contacted me and I am objecting to these plans on a number of grounds.

·         That these proposals decimate existing traditional local corner shops; the proposal does not show a need for a Tesco Express, nor demonstrate the retail impact of a Tesco Express on local corner shops. Time and again in the city, the big shopping centre has taken out the traditional corner shop, which are at the heart, I feel of our communities.

·         The business of the nearest shop run by Denis Mulcahy will be devastated. He has already in the last year re-opened this age old corner shop, and invested in a shop and deli area. As such he has helped in the recreation of the neighbourhood centre in that area.

·         A glance at the Douglas and South Douglas Road has seen a proliferation of Spars and Centras opened up in previous years. The current Cork City Development Plan notes that support should be given for the retention of traditional corner shops. There are also four corner shops in the wider area, which through this proposal would also come under attack, competition wise.

·         The proposal for an off-licence is one of many that have been proposed for this area in recent years. There are already three off licences in the local vicinity. There is no need for a fourth and the proposal does not demonstrate a need for a fourth one. In addition, one hundred metres away is Arbour House, a Drugs and Alcohol abuse centre for the City. The work of this institution would be compromised by this proposed off-licence as would the provision of a homeless centre located nearby on Boreenmanna Road.

·         There is no provision for traffic exiting onto the Douglas Road from the proposed complex.

If you wish to voice your own concerns, the planning file number is 12/ 35372. It can be viewed at the planning counter in Cork City Hall or from Denis Mulcahy’s Shop on Douglas Road by St Finbarr’s Hospital. The final date for objections is Wednesday, 26 September 2012, at 4pm to the planning counter in Cork City Hall.

Yours sincerely,

___________________

Cllr Kieran McCarthy