LIDL in Knocknacarra?

emptybladder · 17-02-2014 8:50pm

Birroc wrote: »

There must be loads of room for a LIDL or ALDI in Knocknacarra. Near Dunnes/B&Q/Aviva would be ideal. Knocknacarra is essentially one big housing estate and must have a very high grocery buying populace with cash to spend.

The LIDL beside Argos and the ALDIs in Westside and Galway SC can be very awkward traffic wise. Knocknacarra seems an obvious alternative.

Aldi already have planning in for a site across from Pure Skill/Monkey Business.

It seems the Knocknacarra Lidl has been redesigned, there's a photo of it here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=653386801384232&set=a.154527567936827.36001.148746965181554&type=1&stream_ref=10

beardybrewer · 22-02-2014 11:24am

Galway Advertiser wrote:

Meanwhile, a revised planning application for the proposed new Lidl supermarket and off-licence in Knocknacarra has been lodged. The plans are for a 20,000 square foot supermarket on a two-acre site off the Blake Roundabout, located on the corner of the Western Distributor Road and the Ballymoneen Road. Changes include a redesign of the supermarket building and alterations to pedestrian access. The access road has been moved from Ballymoneen Road to the Western Distributor Road while deliveries will now only take place from 7am and 11pm.

http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/67113/lidl-to-open-new-store-in-doughiska

Iwannahurl · 22-02-2014 7:09pm

"Pedestrian access" from the Western Distributor Road.

Yeah right.

Galwaystar · 18-03-2014 2:54pm

Planning permission for the store in Knocknacarra has been granted.

3fullback · 18-03-2014 3:00pm

Galwaystar wrote: »

Planning permission for the store in Knocknacarra has been granted.

Link ?

antoobrien · 18-03-2014 3:17pm

3fullback wrote: »

Link ?

http://gis.galwaycity.ie/ePlan/InternetEnquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=12268

Iwannahurl · 21-03-2014 11:21am

All is well. The planning conditions require "a professional piece of artwork .. in the interest of orderly development."

Presumably the artwork will be so uplifting that it will enable shoppers with children in prams and disabled people in wheelchairs to levitate over the Blake roundabout.

Arnold Layne · 22-03-2014 4:33pm

Does this mean the entrance is to be on the Ballymoneen Road before the roundabout?

Cheshire Cat · 29-08-2014 9:07am

According to today's City Tribune (page 4) the Planning Appeals Board has refused planning permission for the Lidl supermarket in Knocknacarra

Would have been nice to have one on this side of the Corrib.

beardybrewer · 29-08-2014 10:13am

That's a pity, I was looking forward to being able to walk to a fresh bakery. Is that the end of the road, appeal wise?

Iwannahurl · 29-08-2014 3:57pm

Cheshire Cat wrote: »

According to today's City Tribune (page 4) the Planning Appeals Board has refused planning permission for the Lidl supermarket in Knocknacarra

Would have been nice to have one on this side of the Corrib.

Iwannahurl wrote: »

"Pedestrian access" from the Western Distributor Road.

Yeah right.

Iwannahurl wrote: »

All is well. The planning conditions require "a professional piece of artwork .. in the interest of orderly development."

Presumably the artwork will be so uplifting that it will enable shoppers with children in prams and disabled people in wheelchairs to levitate over the Blake roundabout.

From the Bord Pleanala files:

The revised layout also provides for pedestrian access to the site from both the Cappagh Road and the Ballymoneen Road with pedestrian crossing points proposed on both roads. The development I consider provides for a reasonable level of accessibility and permeability to the adjoining residential areas, roadways and lands.

No mention of the Western Distributor Road at all in that context. In other words, the ABP Inspector did not given any consideration at all to pedestrian access on the main arterial route to the proposed development. It seems all that mattered was access from adjoining residential areas, and the pedestrian access needs of residents in Sli Burca, Fana Burca, Sli Gheal, Radharc na Farraige and other estates along the Ballymoneen Road north of the WDR were conveniently ignored. Or maybe the Inspector assumed they would drive rather than try to cross on foot or by bike. Or maybe he thought that vehicular access was the most important consideration.

Luckily, the Board disagreed with this blinkered, car-centric view:

In deciding not to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to grant permission, the Board ... was also of opinion that the proposed access to the site, while meeting traffic requirements, did not represent an appropriate or welcoming environment for other users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

galwaygem · 20-02-2015 1:32am

They have put the boards up in the field again two weeks ago. I think they had to go back to the drawing board regarding the exit and entrance, looks like Lidl are pushing ahead.

topcat77 · 20-02-2015 10:00am

http://www.galwayindependent.com/20150109/news/lidl-plan-lives-on-S49273.html

Article dated Jan 9 2015.

jkforde · 20-02-2015 9:44pm

they were asked for Further Information last Tuesday

what_traffic · 20-11-2015 12:09pm

Not going ahead.

http://galwaybayfm.ie/rgdata-blocks-lidl-plans-for-knocknacarra/

Mrs OBumble · 20-11-2015 1:40pm

Aldi opened yesterday, though.

http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2015/11/19/4109879-aldi-opens-new-store-in-knocknacarra-/

Das Kitty · 20-11-2015 1:42pm

what_traffic wrote: »

Not going ahead.

http://galwaybayfm.ie/rgdata-blocks-lidl-plans-for-knocknacarra/

Damnit!

snubbleste · 20-11-2015 1:48pm

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Aldi opened yesterday, though.
http://www.galwayindependent.com/news/topics/articles/2015/11/19/4109879-aldi-opens-new-store-in-knocknacarra-/

beardybrewer · 20-11-2015 3:05pm

Christ, what are people queuing for? Will it be safe to start shopping there this weekend or will it be as crowded and overrun with kids as westside?

Das Kitty · 20-11-2015 3:06pm

beardybrewer wrote: »

Christ, what are people queuing for? Will it be safe to start shopping there this weekend or will it be as crowded and overrun with kids as westside?

€100 vouchers were up for grabs.

Eeden · 20-11-2015 5:23pm

It still looked pretty busy there today (though no actual queues). I gave up the idea of going in, I'll leave it for a quieter time.

Das Kitty · 20-11-2015 8:42pm

Eeden wrote: »

It still looked pretty busy there today (though no actual queues). I gave up the idea of going in, I'll leave it for a quieter time.

I went in today. Busy but not maddening. Nice big shop.

bobbyss · 21-11-2015 10:34am

Das Kitty wrote: »

I went in today. Busy but not maddening. Nice big shop.

What was the parking like?
I passed by it last week and I saw the car park which looked a bit small to me.

Das Kitty · 21-11-2015 2:28pm

bobbyss wrote: »

What was the parking like?
I passed by it last week and I saw the car park which looked a bit small to me.

I got a spot straight away. There wasn't any queue. Much easier to navigate than Westside.

beardybrewer · 21-11-2015 7:29pm

I also passed by twice today and the car park was jammers. They're going to need double-yellows painted on that road. It was already a bad habit around Monkey Business and it has the potential to get a lot worse with the increase in traffic.

GekkePrutser · 21-11-2015 7:58pm

what_traffic wrote: »

Not going ahead.

http://galwaybayfm.ie/rgdata-blocks-lidl-plans-for-knocknacarra/

So this planning board refused lidl because they saw no need for this kind of store in Knocknacarra yet they have no problems with the same kind of store from Aldi in the same area. Wtf.

I would have loved to have access to cheap fresh bread, Aldi was easy enough to get to on the Westside anyway.

beardybrewer · 21-11-2015 8:17pm

I, too, would have appreciated the bakery right around the corner. However, I have no doubt it makes more sense to develop the B&Q / Dunnes area as a commercial zone. There is a large amount of scrub land and 'the pit' already there to develop.

Ludikrus · 21-11-2015 8:23pm

GekkePrutser wrote: »

I would have loved to have access to cheap fresh bread, Aldi was easy enough to get to on the Westside anyway.

I agree. While it's nice to have an Aldi even closer, Westside is a fairly easy run if you time it right. It would be great to have a Lidl on this side for the things they do better.

I think the new Aldi might have a problem with the entrance for trucks to make deliveries. I was there about 7pm the night it opened and cars were backed up to the entrance of Pure Skill. The reason was a truck trying, with great difficulty, to make the turn into the car park. It took him ages and he had to drive up on curbs to make it.

gordongekko · 21-11-2015 9:35pm

it was a pretty stupid idea to stop lidl but allow aldi. There is no lidl that side of the river but there already was a aldi. Sometime you have to wonder if they are trying to cause traffic jams around the town.

The lidl in doughiska should have been made an aldi as lidl already had one in oranmore. It would have been the same number of shops and it would have aided the traffic flow.

D Trent · 21-11-2015 9:39pm

gordongekko wrote: »

it was a pretty stupid idea to stop lidl but allow aldi. There is no lidl that side of the river but there already was a aldi. Sometime you have to wonder if they are trying to cause traffic jams around the town.

The lidl in doughiska should have been made an aldi as lidl already had one in oranmore. It would have been the same number of shops and it would have aided the traffic flow.

Lidl was in Doughiska before they opened in Oranmore

marklazarcovic · 22-11-2015 4:44pm

werid to turn it down for those reasons and grant aldi permission

gandroid · 24-11-2015 12:26pm

Ludikrus wrote: »

I think the new Aldi might have a problem with the entrance for trucks to make deliveries. I was there about 7pm the night it opened and cars were backed up to the entrance of Pure Skill. The reason was a truck trying, with great difficulty, to make the turn into the car park. It took him ages and he had to drive up on curbs to make it.

I was there too, sat in my car for over 20 minutes along with many others waiting for him to reverse into a very narrow bay trying to avoid bollards, kerbs and parked cars. It's right beside the main car park entrance for customers too. It was farcical. Surely this was down to poor design, somebody must have made a huge mistake with the layout of this in the plans. Very unGerman!

Now I realise that most deliveries will probably take place at night or early in the morning but even still it won't be easy for a big lorry to manoeuvre into.

beardybrewer · 24-11-2015 2:17pm

Every car park in Galway is farcical.

GDSGR8 · 25-11-2015 12:09am

beardybrewer wrote: »

Every car park in Galway is farcical.

Really?

GDSGR8 · 25-11-2015 12:10am

marklazarcovic wrote: »

werid to turn it down for those reasons and grant aldi permission

Yup, especially since their inspector recommended approval. I smell a rat.

Cheshire Cat · 25-11-2015 12:37pm

GDSGR8 wrote: »

Yup, especially since their inspector recommended approval. I smell a rat.

I don't. Aldi had planning permission for ages, but didn't build due to the downturn. Once Lidl appeared on the scene they scaled down their plans and started building. The Aldi site makes more sense, too as it ties in with the rest of the area.
Would have liked a Lidl in the area, nevertheless. The one beside Argos is a pain. Not enough parking and it can be hard to get in and out of the car park.
Only go to the one in Doughiska when I'm in that area.

Baggy Trousers · 28-11-2015 4:02pm

beardybrewer wrote: »

Every car park in Galway is farcical.

I think the one in B&Q/Dunnes takes the buscuit. I often avoid it just because of the car park.
I go to Westside instead even though the Dunnes is inferior.

gordongekko · 28-11-2015 4:05pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

I think the one in B&Q/Dunnes takes the buscuit. I often avoid it just because of the car park.
I go to Westside instead even though the Dunnes is inferior.

Westside car park takes the biscuit altogether. Don't understand why people have to park at the entrance to dunnes holding everyone up when there is a free spot 2 fecking meters away.

beardybrewer · 28-11-2015 7:20pm

Baggy Trousers wrote: »

I think the one in B&Q/Dunnes takes the buscuit. I often avoid it just because of the car park.
I go to Westside instead even though the Dunnes is inferior.

Couldn't agree more but why stop there? Westside Aldi? Argos/Lidl? Woodies/IMC and the entire Galway Shopping Centre from now until February.

B&Q/Dunnes have the same problem as Wellpark: why not have an entrance to the underground carpark right as you turn in? Instead you have to deal with the idiots that fight over the surface spots and waste 10 minutes to go underground to an empty carpark.

We really need to bring some civil engineers from Spain to teach us how to to build roads and carparks correctly and quickly. Whatever about older areas, it kills me to see new construction done wrong.

GerardKeating · 28-11-2015 8:54pm

beardybrewer wrote: »

Every car park in Galway is farcical.

The worst has to be the one at the Jury's Inn, the rainbow streaks of paint on the ramps tell the story.

what_traffic · 30-11-2015 12:22pm

Bike parking at Aldi in KnocknaCarra is rubbish. It’s like a 4 year old designed it OR somebody who has never locked a bike in their life. Racks too close together.

Off topic but excellent point made by Beardybrewer re entrance to underground carparks.
Where has common sense gone?

buzz11 · 23-12-2015 10:37am

Collision there this morning between a car and a delivery truck, it seemed like the delivery truck was reversing across the entrance (to get to the loading ramp) and clipped a car that was exiting.

very poor design on the part of the architect/designer, seems very silly to have the delivery loading ramp located at the entrance/exit.

GalwayGrrrrrl · 24-12-2015 10:10am

beardybrewer wrote: »

Couldn't agree more but why stop there? Westside Aldi?
B&Q/Dunnes have the same problem as Wellpark: why not have an entrance to the underground carpark right as you turn in? Instead you have to deal with the idiots that fight over the surface spots and waste 10 minutes to go underground to an empty carpark.
.

Agreed. It's like they want you to drive past the shops to show them off before you're allowed to park downstairs. It's ridiculous.

westgolf · 26-01-2016 6:30pm

For sale signs up on the land in question so must have decided to go elsewhere.

topcat77 · 26-01-2016 6:36pm

I think it was last week some time i saw a few lads in hard hats on the land. looked like they were taking core samples

what_traffic · 11-07-2016 2:56pm

http://connachttribune.ie/knocknacarra-supermarket-plans-bite-the-dust-for-good-023/

gordongekko · 11-07-2016 5:52pm

Fair play to the residents for fighting their corner. However the council would want to have a long hard look at their overall policy.

We have a so called plan to close 50% of the bridges in the town. However half the town will be left with one bridge to cross to do the weekly shopping in lidl. No public transport options no bike options no option to walk.

How they let Aldi open in knocknacarra without ensuring they closed the wayside branch and allowed lidl open there is just madness

GekkePrutser · 12-07-2016 10:29am

It was a pretty badly chosen place anyway.

The "hole in the ground" would be a more obvious choice and a good location for more retail. Not to mention removing an eyesore

topcat77 · 25-04-2017 9:07am

I think this plot of land seems to be a curse for developers.

http://connachttribune.ie/serious-concerns-knocknacarra-development-proposal-017/

it's actually good to see the planners doing their jobs

beardybrewer · 25-04-2017 9:55am

What a monstrosity, I'm glad it's been held up.

It planned to have vehicular access from the Ballymoneen Road and via the Learg?n development on the Distributor Road, as well as pedestrian access from the Distributor Road.

Here we go again with the access on the Ballymoneen Rd. Our estate fought hard to have access moved to the Western Distributor. I had no idea about the new proposal.

Thank god the city planners did their job for a change and held it up. Pure greed trying to squeeze so much in that space.

LIDL in Knocknacarra?

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