Tesco in Bantry

sonnyblack · 27-09-2014 9:42pm

All I heard was that its been delisted because it will fall down on the street if anyone tried to develop it. The plans to re develop the site by the tesco developer and others were fanciful at best. Small retail units and apartments. Where's the market? Vickery owner made a killing on it. Beside being run as a pub for a while its just sitting there. Is it that special a facade I don't think so. It wouldn't have been de-listed if it was. Whatever goes in there still won't bring people into the town

Baywindow · 27-09-2014 9:46pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

All I heard was that its been delisted because it will fall down on the street if anyone tried to develop it. The plans to re develop the site by the tesco developer and others were fanciful at best. Small retail units and apartments. Where's the market? Vickery owner made a killing on it. Beside being run as a pub for a while its just sitting there. Is it that special a facade I don't think so. It wouldn't have been de-listed if it was. Whatever goes in there still won't bring people into the town

I see...obviously you have no liking of historical buildings..have you seen the window detail on that facade... Surely with modern building techniques it could be saved...pipe the drains under the road...sheet pile and underpin the building front?...by the way are you living in town??..probably not I guess??

sonnyblack · 29-09-2014 8:51am

Baywindow wrote: »

I see...obviously you have no liking of historical buildings..have you seen the window detail on that facade... Surely with modern building techniques it could be saved...pipe the drains under the road...sheet pile and underpin the building front?...by the way are you living in town??..probably not I guess??

Calm down. You'll give yourself a heart attack. My connection to the town is none of your business. You sound like you'd like to keep things exactly as they are in a time warp. Move along with the times. The town needs retail investment to develop and provide employment as well as encouraging people to spend their money. Head out to the next vintage tractor or threshing festival for yourself and relax.

Baywindow · 29-09-2014 2:17pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

Calm down. You'll give yourself a heart attack. My connection to the town is none of your business. You sound like you'd like to keep things exactly as they are in a time warp. Move along with the times. The town needs retail investment to develop and provide employment as well as encouraging people to spend their money. Head out to the next vintage tractor or threshing festival for yourself and relax.

I would not dignify that response sonnyblack with a reply... Suffice to say your comment is probably the reason why bantry is stuck in the doldrums, development wise...have a nice day!

sonnyblack · 02-10-2014 12:29pm

And a good Day to you too my good man. Moving swiftly along see below link to article about Phase 1 of the Inner Harbour in the Southern Star

http://www.southernstar.ie/News/Cllrs-given-a-2016-start-date-for-Bantry-works-26092014.htm

'LOCAL councillors were given a date for the much-mooted ambitious plans for Bantry Harbour, at a recent meeting of the Western Committee in Cork.
Plans for the multi-million euro re-development of the town’s inner harbour were once more outlined to the members, including the detail that Phase One, which will cost up to €7m, will see the dredging of the inner harbour, improvements to the town pier, an amenity area, and the construction of pier side pontoons.
But the meeting heard that it could be almost two years – in 2016 – before the work gets underway.'

Very disapppointed with the timeframe. I understand the Engineering consulatants for the construction phase have been or are about to be confirmed. I was expecting that this would proceed next spring. The article goes on to say that the pier has to be transferred from Cork County council to the Port of Cork before works can begin on widening it. That process will take time I guess.

Dare I say it but I still feel that the Inner Harbour project will be the catalyst for increased retail development with the amount of tourism potential that it has. What's required is some major retailer to have the vision to see the potential and locate in the town.

Baywindow · 02-10-2014 5:11pm

God help us if the good people of Bantry have to wait for the Council to transfer the pier to Cork Port Auth...that could take at least 20 years knowing them!...lets hope for the best...onwards and upwards as they say!...I agree with sonnyblack regarding the hope that any development of the harbour area will stimulate some form of commercial activity. However the start date is yet again the two fingers to the town...I will certainly eat sonnybalcks hat if it ever even goes ahead by 2016...if it does it will co-incide with our great nations 100 years of 'freedom'...how ironic!...I will make a date with sonnyblack to eat his hat in Luceys Bar if this date of 2016 id delivered upon....sonnybalck you have a good day sir!

who the fug · 02-10-2014 5:12pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

And a good Day to you too my good man. Moving swiftly along see below link to article about Phase 1 of the Inner Harbour in the Southern Star

http://www.southernstar.ie/News/Cllrs-given-a-2016-start-date-for-Bantry-works-26092014.htm

'LOCAL councillors were given a date for the much-mooted ambitious plans for Bantry Harbour, at a recent meeting of the Western Committee in Cork.
Plans for the multi-million euro re-development of the town’s inner harbour were once more outlined to the members, including the detail that Phase One, which will cost up to €7m, will see the dredging of the inner harbour, improvements to the town pier, an amenity area, and the construction of pier side pontoons.
But the meeting heard that it could be almost two years – in 2016 – before the work gets underway.'

Very disapppointed with the timeframe. I understand the Engineering consulatants for the construction phase have been or are about to be confirmed. I was expecting that this would proceed next spring. The article goes on to say that the pier has to be transferred from Cork County council to the Port of Cork before works can begin on widening it. That process will take time I guess.

Dare I say it but I still feel that the Inner Harbour project will be the catalyst for increased retail development with the amount of tourism potential that it has. What's required is some major retailer to have the vision to see the potential and locate in the town.

Given I first heard talk about that in 1986 , two more years is not a big deal

celticbouy · 19-10-2014 7:33pm

is there some bit of work going on in vickerys at the moment ?

sonnyblack · 19-10-2014 8:57pm

I think some fella from kilcrohane has bought it. Prob for a song. God knows what he'll do with it. Our learned friend bay window reckons the facade had benn delisted. That should give a bit of leeway. Wait for the planning app I guess.

mp22 · 20-10-2014 9:49am

There is talk in town that the shop and pub will be reopened.

sonnyblack · 20-10-2014 12:02pm

Heard that the Waterfront Bar shut down recently. I hate to say it but the Town seems to be fading away at the moment.

mp22 · 20-10-2014 1:06pm

It is waterfront closed,Tractors closed,pound shop gone,no body out at night even at the weekends.The only shops doing well are the 5 charity shops we have here now.

grange mac · 21-10-2014 1:00am

sonnyblack wrote: »

Heard that the Waterfront Bar shut down recently. I hate to say it but the Town seems to be fading away at the moment.

I used to eat there regularly on Saturdays but always very quiet. Shame really as food was very good I thought. Had to switch to the quays and that is quiet too, don't know what is wrong with the town. Am guessing with the winter and minimal passing trade for another 6 months just wasn't viable.

thebishop · 21-10-2014 10:59pm

For sale sign gone from Vickerys. Good luck to whoever bought it.

sonnyblack · 23-10-2014 5:00pm

Another bit in the examiner today about the forthcoming Inner Harbour Development.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bantry-harbour-embarks-on-euro24m-revamp-293541.html

Port of Cork Authorities want to market the town as a major stopping off point for liners. They seem pretty organised to be fair and are driving on with getting the council to hand over the pier to start works. Make no mistake about it folks. This is Bantry's last shot at the big time. If this devopment is marketed properly and attracts the numbers, retail developments such as Tesco & Dunnes will inevitably follow. The finest natural port and scenery in the country.

The Inner Harbour. Bantrys answer to 'Field of Dreams'

'If you build it, they will come'

Now I must go and lie down after that rant....

sonnyblack · 19-02-2015 9:15am

A new year and a new rumour mill for Bantry. It's been said that the Tesco developer is in financial difficulties, is selling assets, and is out of the game in terms of bringing Tesco to Bantry.

The Supervalu developer has made representations to the Tesco site landowner about buying the site but has been unceremoniously rebuffed. She's probably sick and tired of the bickering between the local developers.

A german low cost retailer has emerged has a new player in the game. It's supposed to be a done deal and they are coming to town. Those boys won't mess about when the ink is on the deal.

Hopefully a new retail beginning for the town. We'll await further news with interest.

shamrock55 · 19-02-2015 8:29pm

There are rumours of a lidl or aldi going around for the last 5 or 6 years, i certainly wont hold my breath

celticbouy · 19-02-2015 10:05pm

will only believe it when I am pushing the trolley through the door

sonnyblack · 20-02-2015 9:49am

celticbouy wrote: »

will only believe it when I am pushing the trolley through the door

And you are right to be cynical after many a false dawn but it is strongest rumour I have heard so far. We'll wait and see

Righteous_Bob · 20-02-2015 12:22pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

And you are right to be cynical after many a false dawn but it is strongest rumour I have heard so far. We'll wait and see

There was activity in the field (holes being dug, men in hi-viz jackets wandering around) on a number of days a couple of weeks ago so something is happening. Whether anything else happens beyond that is another story.

sonnyblack · 22-06-2015 1:41pm

Righteous_Bob wrote: »

There was activity in the field (holes being dug, men in hi-viz jackets wandering around) on a number of days a couple of weeks ago so something is happening. Whether anything else happens beyond that is another story.

Any update lately Righteous? The big problem that a prospective Lidl or Aldi will have will have is that if they try to change the existing design of the granted unit with a new application, they will open themselves to a slew of objections heading to An Bord Pleanala again.

It will be interesting to see if anything comes of this rumour.

shamrock55 · 22-06-2015 4:42pm

Let it go folks, it aint gonna happen,nothing does in this town unfortunatly, at least we had rumours before we dont even have that now:rolleyes:

Righteous_Bob · 23-06-2015 12:31am

sonnyblack wrote: »

Any update lately Righteous?

Nope, zero activity in the field since then

shamrock55 · 23-06-2015 10:22am

When i do my shopping in just about every west cork town except bantry,( macroom,dunmanway,skibb and clon) the amount of bantry people doing their shopping in these places on a regular basis is staggering

shamrock55 · 01-09-2015 3:12pm

Anyone else hear the rumour going around that aldi are going into the site behind rowa where tesco were ment to go

sonnyblack · 01-09-2015 3:25pm

shamrock55 wrote: »

Anyone else hear the rumour going around that aldi are going into the site behind rowa where tesco were ment to go

Shamrock, I heard that as well and it's meant to be cast iron in as far as any rumour in the town can be. Looks like the german landowner has got sick of the local boys and is getting a bit of german efficiency involved. She was heard to say recently that the deal was done.

I only hope that they build the unit as is and not be trying for planning for any design changes. That would open a pandoras box of observations, objections and appeals and delay it all again for another year. What a boost for the town if it comes to pass. Hopefully the mod will be changing the name of this thread to 'Aldi in Bantry'. The Bantry Bay hotel is meant to be re-opening as a steakhouse, hostel and nightclub shortly. The Westlodge hotel is being re-developed. Both run by consortiums of young local lads. Phase 1 of the inner harbour will start in Q4 2015. Finally the town has an opportunity to head in the right direction and locals will have a bit of variety in retail. Of course wherever Aldi go Lidl will follow. It's all very interesting.

shamrock55 · 01-09-2015 6:35pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

Shamrock, I heard that as well and it's meant to be cast iron in as far as any rumour in the town can be. Looks like the german landowner has got sick of the local boys and is getting a bit of german efficiency involved. She was heard to say recently that the deal was done.

I only hope that they build the unit as is and not be trying for planning for any design changes. That would open a pandoras box of observations, objections and appeals and delay it all again for another year. What a boost for the town if it comes to pass. Hopefully the mod will be changing the name of this thread to 'Aldi in Bantry'. The Bantry Bay hotel is meant to be re-opening as a steakhouse, hostel and nightclub shortly. The Westlodge hotel is being re-developed. Both run by consortiums of young local lads. Phase 1 of the inner harbour will start in Q4 2015. Finally the town has an opportunity to head in the right direction and locals will have a bit of variety in retail. Of course wherever Aldi go Lidl will follow. It's all very interesting.

Never realised the bay was gonna be a steakhouse i thought they were just reopening the bar aswell as hostel and nightclub, also thats all money from the states i wouldnt say they were young or local lads but tbh that doesnt matter , also id nearly rather an aldi then tesco lets just hope all this development comes to fruition

sonnyblack · 14-09-2015 9:27am

Folks, the plot thickens. Heard a cast iron rumour that contracts would be signed between the ROWA landowner and Lidl before the end of the month. This has been the most firmed up report I've heard so far so fingers crossed.

shamrock55 · 14-09-2015 1:10pm

Crap i was hoping it would be aldi, but we will take it, hopefully aldi will follow like they usually tend to follow eachother

sonnyblack · 14-09-2015 1:28pm

shamrock55 wrote: »

Crap i was hoping it would be aldi, but we will take it, hopefully aldi will follow like they usually tend to follow each other

To be honest Shamrock don't rule Aldi out yet until the contracts are signed. Then we'll know for sure. You are right though, if one comes in the other will follow. It's all good.

celticbouy · 04-11-2015 10:55pm

all gone quiet again on the aldi /lidl front ,anybody know whats happening
with the new marina

shamrock55 · 06-11-2015 10:21pm

celticbouy wrote: »

all gone quiet again on the aldi /lidl front ,anybody know whats happening
with the new marina

Yea " nothing" thats what, anyone hear that heatons are moving into vickerys:D

sonnyblack · 10-11-2015 12:24pm

Emailed port of cork in relation to the above and was told the following:

Contract award - December 2015

Works commencing - January 2016.

Makes sense not to start before Christmas I guess. No doubt there will be an announcement for the award and contract signing.

Bring it on.

ofcork · 05-12-2016 4:23pm

They were talking about this on c103 this morning some meeting coming up about no lidl/aldi in bantry

bigbrotherfan · 11-12-2016 6:30pm

I know lots of people from Bantry who travel out of Bantry to to do their weeky shopping, if or when they can. Clonakilty, for example has Supervalu, Dunnes, Lidl etc but Bantry doesn't.

CJhaughey · 13-12-2016 5:12pm

Apparently Aidan Maccarthy wrote in a submission objecting to the Lidl/Aldi being located outside the town, he wanted it to be in the town centre possibly knocking the boys club to build it there.
The only recreation place left in Bantry and he would like to knock it.
The handball alley was already knocked to make a carpark!

ofcork · 14-12-2016 6:10pm

Someone on 96 with pj this morning about it

bigbrotherfan · 14-12-2016 6:12pm

Surely there must be somewhere else that can be knocked, within the town. I've seen some new Aldi and Lidl stores built in the most unexpected and unusual places, including petrol stations. Shouldn't be any need to knock the Boys' Club. Mind you, a lot of the Aldi and Lidl stores are on the outskirts of other towns, around the country.

sonnyblack · 15-12-2016 8:57am

If you don't have retail in and around a town you won't get footfall. It's as simple as that. The combination of a new Lidl and new Supervalu both with proper parking will bring business to the town and benefit all businesses, pubs restaurants and shops. This nimby attitude has been holding the town back for the last 100 years. The mart was lost to Bandon because business owners didn't want to wait a couple of weeks to get paid when the farmers would sell their animals on mart day. The boys club is the only public amenity in the town for sports. It was built by the townspeople and will never be demolished. That site is dead. Supervalu own the former Hurleys garage site up by the library. Why can't they move their wholesale business out by Murphy & O'Connors and let Aldi in there. They can then build their main store down by Townlots. Skibbereen and Clonakilty have all the shops and the towns are booming. It's a potentially win win situation for the town to get these shops in and the 1200 people who signed a facebook page know this. The big numbers attending a public meeting to bring Lidl to Bantry recently know this as well.
Hopefully there will be a decision before Christmas by An Bord Pleanala to allow both Lidl & Supervalu to proceed. This combination together with Phase 1 of the Town Harbour re-development will finally start to put the town on the map again. Aldi may well follow Lidl. Bantry has the finest natural scenery in West Cork and hopefully people will get the retail choices they deserve.

bantry16 · 16-12-2016 6:24pm

There seems to be a lot of untruths surrounding the Lidl/Bantry debate at the moment.

The vast majority of people who are against the current proposal aren't against the idea of another supermarket in Bantry, we all know Bantry is long overdue a choice in retail and we are currently haemorrhaging business travelling to Skibbereen, etc.

The people against the proposal are against the location. It's well known that building shopping centres out of easy access to town centres has a negative impact on a towns vitality. Look at Skibbereen, they have a Lidl and SuperValu and now an Aldi within walking distance of the town centre. The centre of town is bustling and the small shops there are benefiting hugely as a result. If those supermarkets were built outside of Skibbereen town, like proposed in Bantry, do people honestly believe that they would bother wandering into the town to all the small shops, cafes, etc? Anyone who has been to Tralee recently can see what damage out of centre shopping centres can do to a town, the Tralee town centre is dead.

The optimum solution is to find a site (or amalgamation of sites) as close to the town centre as possible. It's obviously much easier and cheaper for a developer to chose a greenfield site and most people seem to of the opinion that we should get a new supermarket here as soon as possible no matter what the cost. There are a number of possibilities around the town but they need a bit of imagination and money to get developed:
- There was an Aldi approved near the library, why isn't that being developed?
- The boys club site has huge potential (I think the idea was to incorporate a new sports facility with a supermarket, not lose the Boys Club all together, there is loads of space there for both)
- There's also potential for development up by the church.

If I was a developer I would be looking for the easiest site to develop too, I just don't think it's the best for the developer is necessarily best for the town in this case.

We are all screaming out for a new supermarket in Bantry, it would just be a huge shame if we settled on a site outside of town and live to regret it in the future.

Ghost Train · 16-12-2016 9:44pm

ofcork wrote: »

They were talking about this on c103 this morning some meeting coming up about no lidl/aldi in bantry

Recording of that below
https://www.c103.ie/news/lidl-debate-for-bantry-continues/

sonnyblack · 19-12-2016 8:35am

bantry16 wrote: »

There seems to be a lot of untruths surrounding the Lidl/Bantry debate at the moment.

The vast majority of people who are against the current proposal aren't against the idea of another supermarket in Bantry, we all know Bantry is long overdue a choice in retail and we are currently haemorrhaging business travelling to Skibbereen, etc.

The people against the proposal are against the location. It's well known that building shopping centres out of easy access to town centres has a negative impact on a towns vitality. Look at Skibbereen, they have a Lidl and SuperValu and now an Aldi within walking distance of the town centre. The centre of town is bustling and the small shops there are benefiting hugely as a result. If those supermarkets were built outside of Skibbereen town, like proposed in Bantry, do people honestly believe that they would bother wandering into the town to all the small shops, cafes, etc? Anyone who has been to Tralee recently can see what damage out of centre shopping centres can do to a town, the Tralee town centre is dead.

The optimum solution is to find a site (or amalgamation of sites) as close to the town centre as possible. It's obviously much easier and cheaper for a developer to chose a greenfield site and most people seem to of the opinion that we should get a new supermarket here as soon as possible no matter what the cost. There are a number of possibilities around the town but they need a bit of imagination and money to get developed:
- There was an Aldi approved near the library, why isn't that being developed?
- The boys club site has huge potential (I think the idea was to incorporate a new sports facility with a supermarket, not lose the Boys Club all together, there is loads of space there for both)
- There's also potential for development up by the church.

If I was a developer I would be looking for the easiest site to develop too, I just don't think it's the best for the developer is necessarily best for the town in this case.

We are all screaming out for a new supermarket in Bantry, it would just be a huge shame if we settled on a site outside of town and live to regret it in the future.

Unfortunately, this point has been made over and over again and is the primary reason why there is no new retail in the town. There are no viable sites in the town. The boys club is not a viable site with a river running through it as well as the existing towns sporting amenities. No developer is going to go anywhere near it as the infrastructural costs would go though the roof before any building is erected. The Lidl site is located near the town playground. Surely that can't be considered 'out of town'. It's on a greenfield site that can be developed quickly. The townlots site will be taken up entirely by the new Supervalu. The former Hurleys garage site is in Supervalu ownership for their wholesale business and will remain so. Why would they sell to Lidl or Aldi? They would have done by now if they were going to do so. The reason is simple. It would harm their business. They are the only sites in the town. It's all about the footfall and having a reason to bring people into the town. A new Lidl will do exactly that. This is why all other towns in West Cork have plenty footfall and businesses are booming and Bantry is being left behind. You mention about 'the people' against the proposal. Who are 'the people'? There is only one person that has appealed the planning to An Bord Pleanala? The massive attendance at a recent public meeting in favour of Lidl would seem to indicate large numbers wanting it to come to town.

bigbrotherfan · 25-12-2016 12:17pm

You might say there are no sites in the town but I've seen Aldi building on the site of a garage, where I would have thought there was no chance at all of building and I did dismiss it when I first heard it. I must admit now that I was wrong.

Sometimes, somebody not familiar with the area might see potential in a site that locals might never even have dreamed of.

ofcork · 04-01-2017 4:24pm

Just saw on facebook lidl are going building a store in bantry.

sonnyblack · 04-01-2017 5:00pm

ofcork wrote: »

Just saw on facebook lidl are going building a store in bantry.

Yes, An Bord Pleanala has granted permission for the Newtown former Tesco site. I understand that these stores are built quite quickly so it should be open before next Christmas hopefully. Great news for the town and a much needed retail boost.

The Biggs/O'Keeffe planning decision is due on 30/01/17. Hopefully this will also be granted and a modern store built.

The combination of these 2 stores and the Phase 1 inner harbour completion in the Autumn will definitely attract more retail into the town IMHO

sonnyblack · 04-01-2017 5:02pm

bigbrotherfan wrote: »

You might say there are no sites in the town but I've seen Aldi building on the site of a garage, where I would have thought there was no chance at all of building and I did dismiss it when I first heard it. I must admit now that I was wrong.

Sometimes, somebody not familiar with the area might see potential in a site that locals might never even have dreamed of.

Hopefully you'll be proved right with an Aldi Store now that Lidl has been granted permission.

bigbrotherfan · 07-01-2017 1:16am

In a town the size of Bantry, I'm not sure there's need for both a Lidl and an Aldi. Although when compared with Clon, where there are so many different stores including Dunnes and a big Supervalu, as well as several other large supermarkets, there just might be justification.

sonnyblack · 07-01-2017 1:22am

You're not just talking about the town. You're talking about the surrounding areas as well. Glengarriff, Adrigole maybe Castletown, mizen, Durris, ahkista, goleen. A big hinterland. The town is a natural focal point as long as it has the retail to draw people in. Lidl is a great start. Hopefully new Supervalu decision by end of month. Who knows from there

bigbrotherfan · 07-01-2017 10:22pm

sonnyblack wrote: »

You're not just talking about the town. You're talking about the surrounding areas as well. Glengarriff, Adrigole maybe Castletown, mizen, Durris, ahkista, goleen. A big hinterland. The town is a natural focal point as long as it has the retail to draw people in. Lidl is a great start. Hopefully new Supervalu decision by end of month. Who knows from there

You're right. When there's a greater choice available, the town will draw more customers and compete with the likes of Skibb and Clon.

sonnyblack · 25-01-2017 4:10pm

Supervalu have been granted planning in townlots. €8M investment. 20 new jobs. Supposed to start asap. Great news for town.

Tesco in Bantry

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