The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Outrage over surf school’s permit fight
SURF BUSINESS ORDERED OFF CARPARK SPACE IN BANNA BY COUNCIL
THE owner of a surf school employing six workers between Banna and Inch is at his wit’s end over a protracted battle with the council he says is costing him vital business.
Council staff arrived with gardaí to seize the property of Offshore Surf School at Banna car-park on Thursday morning on foot of an enforcement notice it had served on the business.
The authority had directed Offshore owner Kieran Burke not to operate from the casual trading area of the car-park at Banna as he doesn’t have a casual trading permit to do so, he told The Kerryman.
Mr Burke says he has no option but to work from the car-park, however.
He said he had requested the permit needed a number of years ago, but only three exist for the area and these permits are in the hands of other businesses.
It’s turning into a nightmare for the surf teacher who merely wishes to continue growing his business and providing work for his five employees.
“I have to operate from the carpark,” Mr Burke said.
“I have a beach permit but I can’t store my goods there as the tide comes in high at Banna, unlike Inch, and the gear just gets wet and covered in sand on the beach.
“If you come in for a surf lesson are you going to go with the operator whose gear is nice and dry or the one whose stuff is wet and covered in sand?” Mr Burke asked.
“I also need the visibility of the location for my business.”
Ind Deputy Michael HealyRae said he is ‘outraged’ at the treatment Mr Burke is receiving.
“The gardaí have better things to be doing than being called upon for this. I am outraged at the manner this man and his business is being dealt with by Kerry County Council,” Deputy Healy Rae said.
“At a time when we should be encouraging small business people and doing everything we can to assit them our local authority is literally forcing this man out of business,” he added.
Mr Burke accepts he does not have the casual trading permit the council requires, but that it’s not for want of asking for it.
“I have asked the council to put my business in line for one several times over the years but I’ve never been granted it. Why are there only three permits in existence for this area?”
Mr Burke had to rush from Inch when the council informed him they were present with gardaí to seize his equipment at Banna. The matter was resolved in the short-term when he moved the equipment off site himself.
“All I’m just looking for is just a break. I’ve put my heart and soul into this business,” he said.
Deputy Healy Rae said: “He’s providing an excellent service that is much needed and I can’t understand why the council won’t work with him rather than against him.”