Takeaway gets the green light – but only when mart is in operation
Galway County Council has approved a planning application for a chip van to operate at Clifden mart – however, it can only trade on days when there are livestock sales.
Liam Keogh had sought permission for a change of use of the forecourt of Unit 6 at the mart for use an occasional retail/commercial trading use, including the sale of hot food for take-away.
The application arose from an enforcement action taken by the County Council – and a decision from An Bord Pleanala – against Mark Furniss, who operates the chip van business in the town.
“It is envisaged simply that Mr Furniss will park his van in this space and operate from that area.
“The use of part of the site for sales of the type envisaged ties in well with the overall [livestock sales facility] permission and indeed, the food sales conducted by Mr Furniss is only one of several that occupy the site, particularly when the mart is open.
“It would be [Mr Keogh’s] intention, however, to operate at other times too.
“The site is also open at other times anyway, as it includes operations such as Frank Acton Motors and an NCT centre which opens late into the evening,” the application reads.
Now, planners have approved the application, although they stipulated that the trading house will be confined solely to days and opening hours when the mart is open for sales of livestock only.
“The use shall not be carried on any further days without written agreement of the planning authority,” the decision reads.
Assistant Planner, Patrick O’Sullivan, said that operating beyond mart days would “set an undesirable precedent for further such development in the surrounding area”.
The application was supported by Connemara Chamber of Commerce, which described the site as a “very suitable permanent location”, had good footfall and would complement the site.
In 2015, Mark Furniss made headlines locally and nationally after he was served with warning letters by the County Council over his “unauthorised” chip van in the carpark of the mart.
The matter was subsequently referred to An Bord Pleanala with a query as to whether the chip van was considered exempt or if it required planning permission.
The Board ruled last September that Mr Furniss’ operation would require planning permission if he wished to continue in business.
It said that the impacts of his business such as possible noise, general disturbance, traffic, litter, fumes or odours, ‘constitutes development’ and required permission to continue in operation.