State Sponsored Cretinism

Fast Herman

It appears that the planning board have granted permission to significantly alter the Merchants Arch area to allow an extension of a hotel and inclusion of a restaurant. I do not understand how this is even a point for approval as these iconic structures should fall under a heritage protection act. State sponsored cretinism at its best, pull down much loved and photographed buildings for the benefit of "progress".

A petition online "MyUplift" has already gained 50k signatures in the last days.

I read also that development of St Anne's Park has been overturned four separate times and that the cost barrier to resist development is becoming obstruuctive. And now today, approval for a "visitors center" has been granted for the Hellfire Club.

Is there nothing sacred or safe from the An Bord Pleanala? State sponsored cretinism or a great destroyer?

If only Merchants Arch or Hellfire Club had a badgers sett and a "nature loving patron" living next to them...

bodhrandude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058213251/state-sponsored-cretinism

This hotel being built is this the same area with the Cobblestone Pub, which is been threatened to be demolished.

EmmetSpiceland

Wait, did you mean “cronyism”?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118025435#Comment_118025435

No. Two different things in different areas.

The buildings to the rear of the Merchants Arch pub are to be demolished and replaced by a hotel connected to the Merchants Arch pub. The Arch itself is not going. This has planning permission, it has bugger all chance of being stopped except by economic realities - there are likely too many hotels proposed

The Cobblestone is proposed to be cut down to ~30% of its floor area (through loss of the gig venue, the first floor area used for classes, and the smoking/outdoor area) and a hotel built around and over - cantilevered over the roof of the pub - it. This is the landlord, not the pub operator proposing this. This is only a planning application and can be objected to; and appealed if granted.

Muahahaha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118025435#Comment_118025435

no they are separate issues. Merchants Arch with retain its arch per se but the building to the left of it is planned to be a hotel, meaning the little shops in the arch itself will be gone AFAIK.

The three buildings next to the Cobblestone are also for redevelopment, this time a 9 storey hotel. The plot of land to the rere of the pub is also part of it. AFAIK the beer garden in the Cobblestone will be lost but the pub itself will remain but be surrounded by this 9 storey hotel

As for the Hellfire Club I dont know what the council are doing up there. Last I heard they plan to spend 15m on an visitors centre, cafe and gift shop along with bus parking for tourist coaches. I think its fine as it is but the council seem to want to try to make a tourist attraction for touring coaches out of it. People who use it every day to walk dogs arent happy but they lost their High Court case and are now not allowed to appeal the planning permission granted. The Hellfire Club is great and all but at the end of the day it is just a stone ruin up on a hill, its not Newgrange or anything. Im at a loss myself as to why it needs a visitor centre, cafe and gift shop. If I were an international tourist and the tour brought me to a place like that Id be asking if thats the best they have got, its really bizarre stuff imo.

L1011

The Hellfire already gets international tourists for its esotericism stuff - and the viewpoint. It'd just be a stop on a tour, it'll probably do OK.