aldi for donegal town ?

ednwireland

looks like bennets may have an aldi but they need change of use planning so i guess there will be the usual objections flying in from keeney

German supermarket chain Aldi have submitted a planning request to Donegal County Council for changes to a retail park unit in Donegal Town.

The unit is part of a development proposed to be situated at The Mullins and Drumcliff.

The retail park, proposed by Bennett Developments, was originally granted planning permission by Donegal County Council in 2008.

An objection was later overruled by An Bord Plenala and the development was given the green-light in December of that year.

Aldi Stores Ltd have submitted this application which is requesting the change of the use of a retail warehouse to a discount foodstore.

The application also requests permission for increases to the gross floor-area of the unit.

Aldi’s application is the closest indication yet of a prospective anchor tenant for the proposed retail park.

http://oceanfm.ie/news/2009/05/08/aldi-could-be-en-route-to-donegal-town/
the sooner the better need to top up my winter cycling gear in th autumn ! (selfish i know

LoanShark

Another Low cost Shop,Just what we need..
Don't get me wrong It's great to see investment in the town & I do like Aldi, But With, Marys,Lidl,Euroshopper,€2 shop,Rite Price & So-Lo could we not get a another type of a store?
Would like to see some of the bigger stores..Dunnes,Tesco even possibly try to get ASDA to open their first store in the Republic..
IT just seems that the town is prepared to settle for anything at the moment..
:rolleyes:

ednwireland

rite price has gone !

LoanShark

ednwireland wrote: »

rite price has gone !

You Are Right!

But still, without Rite Price we still have more value shops than anything else!!

byte

I, for one, welcome our new German overlords! Nice to see there's a possibility that something will get built, and create a few jobs.

I had heard that it was originally supposed to be Homebase that were going to open there, but with the recession, probably less people buying stuff that they sell. Whereas people will always buy food, even better when it's cheap.

WRT Keeney's site(s), I don't hear much about anything happening on that front.

ednwireland

2 "observations" made on this planning application

MCGUIRE MCNEICE SOLICITORS BRAY HOUSE 25/06/2009 25/06/2009
DEREK SCOTT DEREK SCOTT PLANNING 25/06/2009 25/06/2009

what are "observations" anyway

looks like we are off down the same old road

planning app here

http://www.donegal.ie/DCC/iplaninternet/internetenquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=0920225

nmg-lky

Observations are really objections!

byte

Jesus, not again. :mad:

I wonder who the solicitors and planners are speaking on behalf of...

LoanShark

byte wrote: »

Jesus, not again. :mad:

I wonder who the solicitors and planners are speaking on behalf of...

I'll Hazard a Guess....All Together..

Gimme a D
D
Gimme an A
A
Gimme an N
N
Gimme another N
N

I think you all can guess from Here...

It is a total farce!
There should be no way that a scottish based person should be allowed to object to a donegal issue..




I know I said that I felt the town didn't need another value shop I did agree that investment into the town was a good thing!

byte

Yeah, saw an article in the Donegal Post about it today.

Also something about him saying it was observations he sent, not objections, and he'd take legal action against anyone who says different...

blue shimmering

byte wrote: »

Yeah, saw an article in the Donegal Post about it today.

Also something about him saying it was observations he sent, not objections, and he'd take legal action against anyone who says different...

He doesn't have any money to take legal action against anyone - he is such a big gob****e! There is more than him involved in the bowl though.....names that have been floating around for a long time, business people in Donegal - I am sure you all can guess who's involved, they should all be boycotted! :mad:

byte

Yeah, I'm not aware who's in the whole "consortium" though there's something fruity going on!

I just hope the "observations" are fed into the shredder where they belong.

smashey

byte wrote: »

I just hope the "observations" are fed into the shredder where they belong.

Oh how many times I've wished for this to happen over the years. Unfortunately, each submission/observation will be given full attention.

irish1967

I have lived here in Donegal Town for 2 years now and have met many many people. EVERY SINGLE person I have spoken to about this strange planning situation thinks its insane. I mean not one single person thought ANY of it was justified... so how and why is it still going on.

As a blow-in I just smile and shake my head. ( I am actually doing it as I re-read this.) Surely common sense should kick in sometime soon.

blue shimmering

smashey wrote: »

Oh how many times I've wished for this to happen over the years. Unfortunately, each submission/observation will be given full attention.

Yes, so have I - why can't they let the town progress & create some badly needed jobs for us? They just want the whole town to themselves, they don't want anyone else in there, they are so short-sighted that they can not see that if there are more shops in the town more people will come in and visit their business to eat, relax, get their hair done.......and so on. Our town would become more vibrant, with much more hussle and bussle that will benefit all of us!

Why do so few control the rest of us, why do we put up with it all? For some reason they can and no one seems to want to stand up to them and let them know we are not happy! Actually maybe everyone is happy - don't think so because if they were we would not be without a counciller would we?

Will wait in anticipation to see what will happen with these two observation or should I dare to say OBJECTIONS!:mad:

LoanShark

The problem is,(with the exception of a few) Donegal Town has not got real Business people,People who know exactly what it is like to create a business form the ground up.Look at the consortium, All inherited (and ballsed up might I add) Pure Sheep, Not looking at the bigger picture and not being able to see the outside benefits..It was easy money that these guys got and they don't know what to do next..

Blue Shimmering- People are not happy and we dont have a councillor because the votes were very poorly managed,Surely with Six people in the field ONE could have got through! and because of that we will suffer for the next fve years...Unless, there is a by election soon and the comunity puts forward a candidate that would have a mandate that is created by the public,Then we might have a proper voice and a TD who is commited to us..

blue shimmering

LoanShark wrote: »

The problem is,(with the exception of a few) Donegal Town has not got real Business people,People who know exactly what it is like to create a business form the ground up.Look at the consortium, All inherited (and ballsed up might I add) Pure Sheep, Not looking at the bigger picture and not being able to see the outside benefits..It was easy money that these guys got and they don't know what to do next..

I agree 100% with you and the one's who are competent business people do not want to get involved in the whole mess! Its so annoying to say the least - it started a long time ago......we were the first choice for the General Hospital - what happened, these business people decided it wasn't a good idea and blocked it!

Some years ago they decided to do away with the car park on the diamond - no amount of talking would make them see that this would lead to the closure of the supermarket (Foodlands), that the heart of the town would be gone! Don't know if others agree with me or even remember what it was like, probably similiar to Raphoe I suppose - I think it was much nicer than now! The ordinary people were not asked about it and even if they were - they were not listened to anyway!

LoanShark wrote: »

Blue Shimmering- People are not happy and we dont have a councillor because the votes were very poorly managed,Surely with Six people in the field ONE could have got through! and because of that we will suffer for the next fve years...Unless, there is a by election soon and the comunity puts forward a candidate that would have a mandate that is created by the public,Then we might have a proper voice and a TD who is commited to us..

Yes, people are not happy at all with the whole political situation - I am not really talking about the economic one, more the local politics that are in Donegal Town. These so called business people who have inherited them from their parents.....and so on, are trying to and mostly succeeding in controlling what happens in town. We are not a happy family at all and I really don't know what could happen to change it, there is so much back stabbing going on - it is unreal!

I do hope we can get a TD in the Donegal Town area, but would not hold out much hope because it is such a big electoral area and can't see us agreeing.......ever, ever, ever - it would have to be some mandate to get our local community to sit up and listen and most importantly TO STICK TOGETHER!

LoanShark

blue shimmering wrote: »

I do hope we can get a TD in the Donegal Town area, but would not hold out much hope because it is such a big electoral area and can't see us agreeing.......ever, ever, ever - it would have to be some mandate to get our local community to sit up and listen and most importantly TO STICK TOGETHER!

I agree!
But the chances of anyone ever agreeing on anything in this town is very slim!

Bob Z

irish1967 wrote: »

I have lived here in Donegal Town for 2 years now and have met many many people. EVERY SINGLE person I have spoken to about this strange planning situation thinks its insane. I mean not one single person thought ANY of it was justified... so how and why is it still going on.

As a blow-in I just smile and shake my head. ( I am actually doing it as I re-read this.) Surely common sense should kick in sometime soon.

What exactly is happening?

blue shimmering

Bob Z wrote: »

What exactly is happening?

The ordinary everyday person on the street in Donegal Town are annoyed about all the politics that are going on behind the scenes and the bully boy tactics (anyone objecting to what I am saying, please feel free to air their views, this is my opinion on what has happened!) - ALL EVERYONE WANTS AT THIS STAGE IS PLENTY OF SHOPS, SHOPS

---

GOOD PLANNING AS WELL, BUT A FEW IN THE TOWN ARE BICKERING OVER WHO WILL GET PLANNING FIRST!

One particular side is continually sending in objections.....observations.....and so on, it has got so bad now that everyone's back is up and they took out their annoyance during the local elections - voting out of town to such an extent that we DIDN'T GET A COUNCILLER EVEN THOUGH WE HAD QUOTA + QUOTA + QUOTA - do I need to say more??????????????????????????

muffler

blue shimmering wrote: »

One particular side is continually sending in objections.....observations.....and so on,

I wouldnt confine it to one particular side - it takes 2 to tango.

blue shimmering wrote: »

it has got so bad now that everyone's back is up and they took out their annoyance during the local elections - voting out of town to such an extent that we DIDN'T GET A COUNCILLER EVEN THOUGH WE HAD QUOTA + QUOTA + QUOTA - do I need to say more??????????????????????????

I dont think this single topic was the reason for the town not having a councillor. May have played a very small part on a few peoples behalf's but I would have though there were more issues than this involved. Anyhow thats for a different day and a different thread.

LoanShark

I wouldnt confine it to one particular side - it takes 2 to tango.

IT is/was one sided, It worked like this.
Kenney Went for planning for Magees,
Bennet went for planning for out at The council offices,
Kenney Objected noted Observations
Bennet went for planning again Objections Obversations were addressed.
Council passsed Bennet for permission,Kenney Objected on the last day, at the last hour,Bennet went to Bord Plannela
Kenney Got permission.
Bennet put in new plans for Mart,
Kenney made Objections Observations.
Bennet went for Mullins,
Kenney made Objections Observations
Kenney went for Mart, Bennet made an Observation.
Bennet got permission from Bord Planela, Kenney Made Objections Observations.

I dont think this single topic was the reason for the town not having a councillor. May have played a very small part on a few peoples behalf's but I would have though there were more issues than this involved. Anyhow thats for a different day and a different thread
You cant realy blame the councillor,He did his best to get all side to talk openly.However it was who he rolled with that cost him the seat.

blue shimmering

LoanShark wrote: »

I wouldnt confine it to one particular side - it takes 2 to tango.

IT is/was one sided, It worked like this.
Kenney Went for planning for Magees,
Bennet went for planning for out at The council offices,
Kenney Objected noted Observations
Bennet went for planning again Objections Obversations were addressed.
Council passsed Bennet for permission,Kenney Objected on the last day, at the last hour,Bennet went to Bord Plannela
Kenney Got permission.
Bennet put in new plans for Mart,
Kenney made Objections Observations.
Bennet went for Mullins,
Kenney made Objections Observations
Kenney went for Mart, Bennet made an Observation.
Bennet got permission from Bord Planela, Kenney Made Objections Observations.

I dont think this single topic was the reason for the town not having a councillor. May have played a very small part on a few peoples behalf's but I would have though there were more issues than this involved. Anyhow thats for a different day and a different thread
You cant realy blame the councillor,He did his best to get all side to talk openly.However it was who he rolled with that cost him the seat.

You forgot about:

Bennet applied for planning in LETTERKENNY and Keeney & Co (business people in Donegal Town who do not want their names mentioned - I suppose to mention them would get me killed??????????????????) objected or should I say put in an observation - talk about a vendetta!

THESE particular business people do not want anything in town that they consider may threaten their dominant positions - or should I say what they consider to be threats to their positions, they cannot see that competition usually brings more people to the town and that can only be good! They have really closed minds to anyone else coming in and will fight tooth and nail to keep them out - don't know how LIDL got past their sonar system, pity they would share the secret to others who are trying to get in here.

I do realise all the same the there are two sides to an arguement and have heard it but to be honest it is ringing a bit hollow at this stage. Yes, I do think that belonging to a particular party didn't help the situation for one particular sitting councillor. The others to were associated with the same party and I think this is why loads from the town didn't vote locally preferring to go for Ballyshannon, Killybegs etc....it is a big mess now though!

Macroom Man

who called Donegal The Whingers' County?

The fact is Donegal people damage their county the most - see previous posts.

muffler

Ah! The troll returns.

Bye now

blue shimmering

Macroom Man wrote: »

who called Donegal The Whingers' County?

The fact is Donegal people damage their county the most - see previous posts.

What????????????????????????

Thats not very fair, we have to say it as it is - don't we?

Donegal people are the best, much better than all the rest, up Donegal! We are only having a discussion, not a whinge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its difficult all the same to go through life without talking things through......thats what we are doing here on this thread!!!!!!!!!!! If you want to call that whinging, well go ahead but who's whinging now, hah???????????

lol

muffler

Ignore him. He's a troll but has taken his leave from the Donegal forum for a while

LoanShark

muffler wrote: »

Ignore him. He's a troll but has taken his leave from the Donegal forum for a while

You Sir,Are A LEGEND!:D

ednwireland

aaaawwww ffs refused

File Number: 09/20225
Application Type: PERMISSION Planning Status: APPLICATION FINALISED

Decision Type: REFUSED

http://www.donegal.ie/DCC/iplaninternet/internetenquiry/rpt_ViewApplicDetails.asp?validFileNum=1&app_num_file=0920225

Carrickman

It's a bloody disgrace that the council turned this down what the fluck are they up to?? Who's side are they taking??

Makes you wonder what is going on, bloody fishy if you ask me:mad:

JupiterKid

I'm amazed that the County Council refused planning permission. I wonder what vested interests were not looking forward to ALDI.

I'm also amazed becuase I though the DCC never turns down planning permission for anything. If the one-off and toblerone style holiday homes development littering the coastal areas are anything to go by...

nellumr

blue shimmering wrote: »

The ordinary everyday person on the street in Donegal Town are annoyed about all the politics that are going on behind the scenes and the bully boy tactics (anyone objecting to what I am saying, please feel free to air their views, this is my opinion on what has happened!) - ALL EVERYONE WANTS AT THIS STAGE IS PLENTY OF SHOPS, SHOPS

---

GOOD PLANNING AS WELL, BUT A FEW IN THE TOWN ARE BICKERING OVER WHO WILL GET PLANNING FIRST!

One particular side is continually sending in objections.....observations.....and so on, it has got so bad now that everyone's back is up and they took out their annoyance during the local elections - voting out of town to such an extent that we DIDN'T GET A COUNCILLER EVEN THOUGH WE HAD QUOTA + QUOTA + QUOTA - do I need to say more??????????????????????????

No point in having plenty of shops if they won't stay open, the town needs to attract sustainable investment, not leave it to local nepotism and gombeenism.

muffler

Id be reluctant to defend the actions of Donegal County Council at the best of times but in all fairness this was out of their hands as such. They were tied by by the guidelines issued by the Dept. of the Environment as highlighted in the reason given below for the refusal.

Having regard to the distance between the proposed retail development and the existing retail core of Donegal Town, and to the severance of pedestrian routes which the permitted roundabout at the junction of the Killymard and the Killybegs roads would give rise to, it is considered that the development would not be within comfortable walking distance of the town centre. The site has previously been determined by An Bord Pleanala to be an out -of -centre site as defined in the “Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities” issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in January 2005. The Planning Authority is not satisfied, on the basis of the information furnished with the planning application that alternative sites closer to the existing retail core are not suitable for development. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to the provisions of the “Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities” in relation to the orderly and sustainable expansion of the existing retail core of the town and would thereby be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Hootanany

Seconened

ednwireland

what i dont get is they could open a homebase or a halfords but not an aldi (could someone point to a town centre site big enough to put something the size of the lidl) ?
and dont say kellys hole :eek:

these places need parking access etc

Essexboy

We get the same kind of horse sh!t in Sligo. Out of town and town centre can co-exist eg Colchester and Chelmsford back in Essex.

Where are the retail outlets in Donegal Town? I don't see any food stores in the town centre: the town has some fine shops but no supermarket.

Let's hope Ballyshannon picks up the baton and allows Aldi in.

byte

That's what I don't understand.

Are the CoCo seriously suggesting it's better to have more traffic forced into town centre to get to supermarkets? Christ, the Diamond can be bad enough as it is, with somebody somewhere thinking it was the ideal place to have Bus Eireann stop, and indeed other drivers double-park.

The only real place in town centre (if it can be classed as such) is the Pavesi-Magee area. I'm sure Donegal Times will have thier opinion piece based on it on Wednesday.

muffler

byte wrote: »

Are the CoCo seriously suggesting it's better to have more traffic forced into town centre to get to supermarkets?

I dont believe that would be the thinking behind any proposal to locate a store/business in or close to a town centre.

First of all the proposal would have to include a set number of car parking spaces to cater for a defined number of patrons and secondly the "near town centre site" would afford people the opportunity of being able to walk from one shop to another and thereby reduce the volume of traffic movement.

byte

muffler wrote: »

I dont believe that would be the thinking behind any proposal to locate a store/business in or close to a town centre.

First of all the proposal would have to include a set number of car parking spaces to cater for a defined number of patrons and secondly the "near town centre site" would afford people the opportunity of being able to walk from one shop to another and thereby reduce the volume of traffic movement.

Thinking of Letterkenny's haphazard approach, you could have a point.

Thinking of which, how come Letterkenny could get away with it?

irish1967

An Bord Planalla has upheld rejections and refused planning permission for Aldi. Reason stated was that it was too far from town's commercial core.
This is despite the site being closer than Lidl and about equal to Supervalu. It doesn't really matter to me but ffs ... It's closer... Dear god guys get out a ruler or even look at a map. Jeeeez

muffler

irish1967 wrote: »

An Bord Planalla has upheld rejections and refused planning permission for Aldi. Reason stated was that it was too far from town's commercial core.
This is despite the site being closer than Lidl and about equal to Supervalu. It doesn't really matter to me but ffs ... It's closer... Dear god guys get out a ruler or even look at a map. Jeeeez

What a load of crap :mad:

Sorry - not your post irish but the decision

Graces7

Not sure where the site is?

One thing has occurred; seeing the state of Letterkenny where planning seems to have gone amok?

Surely better to have retail parks that are further away from the centre and where there can be parking?

Also, I keep meaning to ask; how did that large kitchen eyesore on the road way past Supervalu get past planning?

But ALDI is fine; prefer ASDA of course...

Carrickman

irish1967 wrote: »

An Bord Planalla has upheld rejections and refused planning permission for Aldi. Reason stated was that it was too far from town's commercial core.
This is despite the site being closer than Lidl and about equal to Supervalu. It doesn't really matter to me but ffs ... It's closer... Dear god guys get out a ruler or even look at a map. Jeeeez

JHC this is unbelievable at a time of high unemployment that jobs are lost due to this shower of muppets, corruption is still ripe in dear old Donegal no matter what the cost if we cant build our shops well nobody can:mad:

LoanShark

Carrickman wrote: »

JHC this is unbelievable at a time of high unemployment that jobs are lost due to this shower of muppets, corruption is still ripe in dear old Donegal no matter what the cost if we cant build our shops well nobody can:mad:

I dont believe it is corruption..Its more Selfishness...Second generation businessmen,That have no Vision..

irish1967

What gets me is the reason given. How the hell is it too far out. The two biggest stores in the town are further out. Ok Supervalu may be meters closer but only just.

byte

That'd be funny, but the whole shambles in Donegal Town is beyond funny at this stage.

The reasons given by ABP are pathetic at best. As was rightfully said, it's closer to town than Lidl. I also would've thought keeping it slightly out of town would be easier on traffic congestion?

Carrickman

Corruption, selfishness or whatever you want to call it at this stage its all the same they are just brats who have cost 100's of jobs in the area not to mention revenue with their childish antics I wish they would just cop themselves on at this stage, we have a minister that could have sorted this out over this past few years but did not bother, all the one party dont you know!!

Pot Noodle =

Myself thinks of brown paper envelopes that were not passed over:eek:

fontanalis

But aren't shops not the best way to create employment? there is only a certain amount of money to be spent, if they are spent in one shop over another then the other shop suffers. What Donegal needs is sustainable employment of a manufacturing type where money from outside is brought in.

Graces7

Please; where is it planned to be?

Probably true re shops not being the best way.

It seems. selling as we do at weekends mostly to visitors, that more attractions might work better?

Most we talk to eat in Town and then ask about other places to go.

The castle does well; the Railway Museum is not well enough known.

irish1967

Graces7 wrote: »

Please; where is it planned to be?

The site is opposite the Millpark Hotel and opposite McIntyres Garage. As you drive in from the hills Graces7 it would be directly opposite you as you come onto the roundabout