COUNCILLORS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF ‘NO-FRY ZONES’ NEAR SCHOOLS

Fast food outlets won’t be able to open near schools or playgrounds once the Wicklow County Development plan is adopted later this year.

This follows a vote on ammendments to the draft plan 2016-2022 at Monday’s meeting of Wicklow County Council. One of items discussed was the inclusion of the ‘No Fry Zone’ objective, RT 17. Members of the council voted in favour of this objective, 18 votes to 12.

‘Since the end of the public consultation phase, the No Fry 4 Kids Committee has worked extremely hard on getting support for this within the council,’ said campaign spokesman Philip Moyles.

The campaign emerged after McDonald’s planned to open at the Blacklion Centre in Greystones, adjacent to three schools. Despite planning permission being granted, site owners Lidl pulled out of the deal last November.

Mr Moyles said that the No Fry 4 Kids group had been looking at the wording of the objective to make it more meaningful and robust.

Over 200 submissions were made on the matter during public consultation, including an objection to RT 17 by KFC.

‘An amended objective was submitted by the Greystones council,’ said Mr Moyles.

‘ This is a significant step forward and all 18 councillors should be congratulated in voting against the recommendations of the Chief Executive and listening to the public and experts who made submissions in support of objective RT 17.’

The amended draft County Development Plan will go back out to public consultation again with a final vote to adopt the plan later this year.

RT 17 excludes any new fast-food or takeaway outlet from being built or from operating within 400m of the gates or site boundary of schools or playgrounds, excluding premises zoned town centre.

Fast food outlets and takeaways with proposed drive-through facilities will generally only be acceptable within major town centres or district centres and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.