Council to give go-ahead for development

TRALEE businessman Tommy Horan’s proposed shopping complex for Boherbee is likely to get the ‘green light’ from the planning authority, the Tralee Urban District Council. However, the U.D.C. is unhappy with the size of the proposed development, according to the Town Clerk, Mr. Sean Crispie.

The newly proposed shopping centre is 40,000 sq. feet in size and is expected to cost over £1million to build at current prices. The application to build the centre comes amidst a good deal of public debate and controversy over such development on the periphery of the town.

At the moment an application by Park Holding Ltd , a company owned by Mcelligotts of Castleisland, for permission to build a huge 70,000 sq. ft. shopping complex at Oakpark is under consideration by the planning appeals board, An Bord Pleanala. This follows the refusal by the U.D.C. to allow the development and a subsequent oral hearing in Tralee some months ago.

At the oral hearing the U.D.C. and Chamber of Commerce joined forces in an effort to defeat the development which it was claimed would have dramatically damaging effects on the Tralee town centre.

Now however the shopping development proposed for Boherbee has received strong support from U.D.C. chairman, Mr Frank Gleasure. In an interview with The Kerryman this week he said that he thought Tommy Horan’s development would be good for the town.

“In view of the restricted situation with regard to our parking in the centre of town, the town has got to cater for regional growth.” he said.

Mr. Gleasure added that he would like to see new shopping developments as close as possible to the town centre.

“As far as I am aware the U.D.C. attitude is that it doesn’t wish to upset the existing commercial life of the town by having a very big shopping complex on the periphery. Tommy Horan’s centre is et in the right place with ample space,” he said. “I don’t think it would do much damage to the centre of town.”

Mr Gleasure, who is also a member of the Tralee Chamber of Commerce, said that the Chamber reflects a consensus of opinion, which does not reflect his own on the issue.

Mr. Sean Crispie said no decision had been reached on the Tommy Horan application.

He said there were problems in relation to the size of the proposed development, the access and the circulation of traffic on the site.

However, Mr. Crispie said that in principle the U.D.C. was in favour of a shopping development at Boherbee.

“I might arrest the trend of shopping development going towards Bridge Street and do something for urban renewal,”he said.