Fifth Kilrush petrol station gets go ahead

An Bord Pleanála has turned down an appeal from the Irish Petrol Retailers Association and RGDATA, the representative body for the Independent Retail Grocery Sector in Ireland, against the development of a four island petrol station by Tesco, Kilrush.
Mayor of Kilrush Liam Williams told The Clare Champion that family-run businesses in Kilrush are fearful the proposed development will have a negative impact on their livelihoods.
“There has been a mixed reaction in the community. There is concern for the future of family-run businesses and that employment levels may be affected if the development goes ahead,” Councillor Williams said.
Planning permission has twice been granted by Clare County Council, while An Bord Pleanála upheld an appeal made against the original decision to grant planning permission.
This time though, they have turned down the appeal, subject to 13 conditions. In their unsuccessful appeal, the Irish Petrol Retailers Association and RGDATA warned that if the Tesco petrol station is given the go ahead, it would result in job losses in West Clare and that the presence of the station would create traffic hazards on the Ennis road in Kilrush.
“Similar developments by the applicants elsewhere have resulted in the closure of local filling stations. The impact on a town such as Kilrush will be more severe,” RGDATA said in their submission.
The representative body also said that having a petrol station located adjacent to large supermarket “is not provided for in the retail planning guidelines”.
RGDATA claimed permission should be refused on the basis of maintaining the “vitality and viability of the town centre and the self sufficiency of surrounding villages”.
In their submission, the Irish Petrol Retailers Association said “economics dictate that developments such as this will result in the closure of local and rural petrol stations”.
They also claimed that sight-lines at the exit are deficient and that the proposed layout “remains constricted, giving rise to the creation of a traffic hazard”.
An Bord Pleanála inspector, Conor McGrath, turned down the appeal but cited 13 conditions, some of which relate to the provision of an internal road network and the lighting used within the forecourt.
There are two petrol stations already located on the Ennis road in Kilrush, a third on the Kilkee road roundabout in the town and a fourth on High Street.