Close to 20 public submissions received on Lidl's Monksland store plans

Tuesday of this week (June 30) was the closing date for the public to make submissions on the proposed Lidl supermarket planning application in Monksland, Athlone.

At the time of writing, close to 20 submissions on the plans were listed on the Roscommon County Council planning website as having been received, with the majority of these in favour of the propsal.

Seven public representatives, South Roscommon councillors Emer Kelly, John Keogh and Valerie Duffy, Senator Gareth Scahill, and local TDs Martin Daly, Claire Kerrane and Michael Fitzmaurice, were recorded as having made submissions, as were two semi-State bodies, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Uisce Éireann.

There were also records of submissions from Liam Fallon, Enda Kelly, Gillian Coffey, Susan Kelly, Donal Kenny, Samuel Norris, Brent Engelbrecht, Joseph Harney, James Kilmartin, and the organiser of a recent public meeting in support of the supermarket project, Mark Francis.

Cllr John Keogh, in his submission, said "the community of Monksland/Bealnamulla, and the wider South Roscommon area" had been "calling out for a budget-type supermarket" in the locality.

If approved, the proposed Lidl store would be developed on a site across the road from the Athlone Springs Hotel, and next to the Joe Duffy car sales showroom.

Cllr Keogh said he believed the most suitable type of development for this site would have been "a multi-storey mixed use development... similar to the Lidl development in Oranmore, Galway," but he acknowledged this was not what Lidl was planning here.

"In circumstances where no other developer appears to be willing to enter the market to develop such a facility on the site in question, and Lidl is not willing to consider such an application, I therefore support this current application by Lidl," said the councillor.

In addition to a single-storey discount supermarket and off licence, the Lidl planning application includes two other smaller commercial units, one of which is described as a café/restaurant with sheltered outdoor seating area.

A submission from Drum resident and Monksland café operator Enda Kelly, dealing with the café/restaurant element of the plan, expressed concern that "the cumulative effect" of additional cafe/restaurant capacity in the area had not been "adequately considered".

Mr Kelly pointed out existing businesses in Monksland "have invested heavily in the area and continue carry significant operating costs" including commercial rates, which he said had "increased substantially" over the years.

His submission added there had been "a closure of a restaurant in the past few years located only 500m from this proposed new site" which, he said, "raises serious questions" about the level of consumer demand.

"I support appropriate development in Monksland, but I believe development should be balanced and should take account of existing businesses that already contribute to the local economy and commercial rates base.

"I respectfully request that Roscommon County Council carefully consider these concerns before making a decision on this application," Mr Kelly concluded.

Cllr Emer Kelly submitted a petition containing hundreds of signatories from people in support of the Monksland Lidl store, while TD Martin Daly said he had been contacted by numerous constituents about this issue and asked the council to give "due regard" to the "clear demand" they had expressed in favour of the development.

Cllr Valerie Duffy said she was in favour of the Lidl project as the addition of the retailer would "encourage people to shop in Monksland and to stay longer in the area to meet family and friends, using other facilities including local cafes and the hotel.

"This is a win for the community, for business, for local employment, for Roscommon," Cllr Duffy stated.

"I understand that permission was rejected for a similar proposal a number of years ago and that this new application goes someway to addressing the issues that arose then.

"I recognise that there may be concerns among local businesses about this new development and I will work with them, the local authority, and the local community to address emerging issues so we ensure that Monksland thrives for everyone."

James Kilmartin of the Monksland Town Team community organisation made a submission "in strong support" of the proposed Lidl store.

"It will increase retail choice, create employment, improve local services, enhance active travel infrastructure and support the continued growth of one of county Roscommon’s fastest-growing settlements," Mr Kilmartin wrote.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland, in its submission, didn't make any specific observations on the project, saying only that it would rely on the council's decision-makers to "abide by official policy" in relation to developments on or affecting national road routes.

Uisce Éireann, meanwhile, confirmed that water and wastewater connections to the proposed development could be facilitated without the need for it to carry out an infrastructure upgrade in the locality.

The council is due to make its decision on Lidl Ireland's Monksland planning application by July 21.