Proposed Miltown supermarket to create new employment

A NEW €4 million supermarket in Miltown Malbay will generate 70 construction jobs and 50 part-time and full-time posts, its developer has predicted.

John Jones is confident the new supermarket, with SuperValu as its main anchor tenant, will proceed, despite the increasing number of developments that have not materialised as a result of the economic recession. Mr Jones believes the family’s record in retail since 1837 will help the supermarket become a commercial success.
The development was given the green light by An Bord Pleanála this week, after a similar plan for a larger development with eight residential units was refused on appeal in 2008.
Following a number of alterations, including a slight reduction in the overall development and the exclusion of the residential units, the appeals board has upheld Clare County Council’s approval of the second application with revised conditions.
The development consists of a single-storey supermarket, incorporating an off-licence with ancillary storage plant delivery areas, offices and staff facilities, an all-weather playing pitch with associated fencing and lighting, 14 car parking spaces and a children’s playground.
The proposed development is located on lands between the Ennis and Baltard Road in the townland of Leagard North, Miltown Malbay.
Deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation to seek further information or refuse the development, the board felt the upgrade works, improved vehicular access and the road proposed by the applicant fulfil the local area plan requirements. It also decided an oral hearing was not necessary as it considered the application could be assessed on its merits.
Plans for a different supermarket development by Michael Gleeson and Jim Shannon, including 49 basement car parking spaces, 23 surface-level car parking spaces, a new public square and upgrade of the existing New Line Lane to a 6m carriageway street at Leagard South, Miltown Malbay, which was refused by the council, has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Asked if there is room for two major supermarkets in Miltown, Mr Jones said he is the seventh generation of the family involved in business in the town and noted his mother and father were involved in the retail trade for 40 years.
He pledged he would go ahead with his development and what happens with the other development if it secures approval is a matter for the other developers.
“I have got great support from my family, my wife Claire and people in Miltown, who kept me going through the long planning process. Over 500 people attended a public meeting in Miltown back in September 2010 before our plans for the revised development were submitted to the council, which illustrated the huge level of local support.
“There has been a great buzz of anticipation in Miltown since the news filtered through. Local people are delighted with this good news. We always knew we would get planning because we felt we had a good development,” he said.
The decision was welcomed by Senator Martin Conway, who said the creation of construction jobs and long-term retail posts are badly needed in West Clare.
He pointed out there has been “retail seepage” from Miltown Malbay to urban areas like Ennis, which would be addressed by this development.
“This development may be considered a drop in the ocean in terms of our national economic woes but every drop has a ripple effect. This development will provide a huge boost for the local economy and it will help keep the local spend in the locality,” he said.