Planning decision due this month on controversial Lidl store plan for Dunboyne
More than 263 submissions have been received by Meath County Council on a controversial planning application by Lidl for a supermarket in the heart of Dunboyne village.
The German retailer is planning to build a 2,200sqm single storey discount foodstore with off-licence and 119 parking spaces on a three-acre site it purchased from St Finian's Diocesan Trust last year, located between St Peter and Paul's Church and the parochial house. The proposal also includes a single storey café unit of 165sqm adjacent to a plaza area in the existing car park area. A new car park of 53 spaces for exclusive use of the church is also included in the plans, which will address the loss of spaces from the existing car parking area beside the church..
While people are generally supportive of a Lidl supermarket in the Dunboyne, there have been widespread concerns about what changes will be made to the village centre particularly the village green area, including the removal of a number of parking bays and the installation of traffic lights.
Both local councillors Fine Gael's Maria Murphy and Fianna Fáil's Damien O'Reilly are strongly opposed to the plans and are among several hundred people to lodge an objection.
"From their application, there seems to be far greater changes to the public realm, footpaths and parking bays than they would have indicated. The changes they are proposing are very invasive. Dunboyne is a living village and the changes that are proposed will have a great impact on residential amenity and access to property," said Cllr Murphy.
Cllr O'Reilly described the changes proposed to the centre of Dunboyne as "outrageous" and urged Lidl to find a new location.
"Dunboyne will see major changes over the years to come, with lands zoned for 2,500 high density housing units on all lands surrounding the current footprint of Dunboyne. It is paramount that Dunboyne village centre maintains its unique historical character as per Dunboyne Architectural Conservation Area. I find the proposed changes to Dunboyne outside the applicant’s ownership and boundary totally unacceptable."
The closing date for submissions passed on Thursday 22nd December with a total of 263 submissions made which will now be considered by Council planners. A decision is due on the development on 21st January.
Lidl says the development will bring up to €12 million in local investment to the community, as well as creating 30 new jobs at the store and 100 during construction and development stages.