It’s D-Day for shopping plan

October 1995

Wicklow town councillors faced another crunch planning decision next Monday when they vote on a controversial £2 million shopping centre proposal.

The centre is earmarked for a one acre res- idential site bordered by Church Street and Wentworth Place in the heart of Wicklow and requires a material contravention of the town development plan.

Apart from the main building, a supermarket which most likely would be taken over by the SuperValu chain, the centre would also comprise of five or six small retail units, some office space and a number of apartments.

Residents in the area are opposed to the plans as they say it would destroy the character of the locality and create traffic chaos.

Reservations have also been voiced by local traders who fear business will suffer from increased competition.

Councillors at next Monday’s meeting will have to balance those objections with the tempting promise of new jobs.

The Glenealy based developer behind the project, Charles O’Reilly Hyland, has said he expects 40 jobs to be available during the construction and a further 50 to 60 jobs when the centre is open.