RESIDENTS in Skerries will meet this week to hear local concerns about a planning application for a drive-thru restaurant in the north county Dublin seaside town.
An application was lodged by Marbleside Ltd on May 16 for a 527 sq metre fast food restaurant at Skerries Point Shopping Centre. The two-storey building will be capable of seating 125 people and will include a takeaway facility and drive-thru for cars.
The developers are seeking permission for 24-hour opening, which they say will allow its future operator flexibility. This has proven to be one of the most contentious elements of the planning application.
Objectors to the development set up a Go Fund Me page to pay for a planning consultant to prepare a detailed submission to Fingal County Council.
Local Fine Gael councillor, Tom O’Leary, is among those opposed to the planning application. He believes that the proposed 24-hour opening would adversely affect the residential amenity of the area, where there are many families with young children. He said he has concerns about possible anti-social behavior at a late-night outlet such as the one proposed.
He also cited increased traffic levels and the close proximity of the proposed restaurant to a local school as other reasons for his objections.
“This is a substantial commercial development which will generate substantial pedestrian activity and increased traffic from cars entering and parking nearby in a car park attached to the nearby shopping centre,” Cllr O’Leary said.
A public meeting will be held this Thursday, June 7, between 7pm and 8pm, at Skerries Educate Together National School, to coordinate local objections to the planning application. The deadline for observations, submissions and objections is June 19.