Appeal against live music venue on quay

AN appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanála against a decision by Wexford County Council to grant planning permission to Coant Entertainments Ltd for the building of a new live music venue on the site of Crown Live on Commercial Quay.

Dave O’Connor who runs Ye Olde Barber Shop in an adjacent building at 18 Commercial Quay, is objecting to the development because he has concerns about the blocking of natural light on his premises and also fears about fire safety and structural issues.

Having outlined his objections to the County Council during the planning process, Mr. O’Connor has now lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the Neville brothers project, pointing out that the issues he raised were not addressed.

Council planners had described his concerns as valid and said they asked the developer to address them by making design changes on the first and second floors of the proposed development to allow light into the adjoining premises.

However, Mr. O’Connor said this implied his concerns were dealt with but he could find no evidence of any of his concerns being addressed in the planning conditions which were imposed on the permission. Having read the conditions, I feel my concerns have not been dealt with in any way’, he said. He has raised a further question in relation to a portion of the Crown Live premises not being included in the development (a second floor section of the adjacent building occupied on the ground floor by JP Delaney and beside Mr. O’Connor’s business).

‘I am unaware if this was an oversight on the part of the developer or if it is to be part of the development. If it is, it would cause further concerns about the structural integrity of my premises’, he said in his appeal.

Mr. O’Connor said the proposed development would wrap around his yard at a height of approximately eight metres above the first floor window, eliminating natural light into his workplace as the proposed wall would be almost flush with his rear wall. ‘I have serious concerns as to how this will affect my business in the future’, he said. In relation to the demolition of the existing Crown Live building, he said: ‘My concern is that possible damage may occur to my building’.

‘I am also worried about the effects the works will have on trade into the building during construction’, he added. In relation to fire safety, Mr. O’Connor said there is an existing provision for a fire escape onto a roof and he has had a fire on his premises in the past.