Baltinglass Supermarket Saga Continues: Lidl Appeals Council's Decision Amidst Local Anger

Friday, 29 March 2024 09:56

By Martin Osborne

A decision on the appeal will be decided by July 25th this year.

Lidl has lodged an appeal after plans for the supermarket in Baltinglass were rejected.

Local's who have campaigned for a large supermarket to be established in the area, said they plan on making it an issue on the doors when politicians begin canvassing for votes.

A decision on the appeal will be decided by July 25th this year.

Lodged in February 2023, Lidl’s plans in Baltinglass, on a site at Parkmore House in Weaver’s Square, proposed the construction of a single-storey supermarket.

Earlier this month, Wicklow County Council dismissed the application, citing that the proposed development's location falls under the zoning category 'TC – Town Centre'.

A planner from the council emphasised the importance of utilising land zoned for town center efficiently and for suitable development purposes.

The planner expressed reservations, emphasising concerns about the development's single-storey scale and its limited footprint in relation to the site area.

Additionally, they pointed out the lack of justification for the proposed level of car parking and the allocation of land and site frontage for the entrance area.

The planner concluded that the proposed development doesn't optimise the town center zoned lands efficiently. They believe it wouldn't achieve a compact, high-quality form of development, thereby conflicting with the objectives outlined in the County Development Plan (2022-2028) and impeding the area's proper planning and sustainable development.

Thousands of locals, who are part of a Facebook Group, have vowed to make it an issue in the upcoming local elections.

Local Cllr Gerry O Neill told Kfm that hundreds of locals have to travel further afield for their weekly shop.

He said they have been extremely angry about the decision.