Locals upset at go-ahead for city hotel

ACTIVISTS who had been campaigning against development in the south inner city expressed “anger and regret” at the decision by An Bord Plánála to grant planning permission for an 8-storey hotel to Harry Crosbie of the Vicar Street venue.

Bríd Smith TD and local councillor Tina MacVeigh of People Before Profit in Dublin South Central had lodged an objection to the application earlier this year on foot of what they referred to as widespread outrage from local residents to the proposed development.

Responding to the granting of the planning permission, Deputy Smith said: “The last thing Dublin 8 needs is another hotel.

“Dublin 8 has been saturated with hotel, apart-hotel and luxury student accommodation. What the area needs is sustainable community housing and green spaces.

“And in the midst of a housing crisis there has been no public housing development in the Liberties/ Dublin 8 area.

“The Liberties, the last piece of ‘old Dublin’ is about to be ruined. Harry Crosbie’s Rock’n’Room Hotel will set the standard in both height and acceptability for this area for decades to come.”

People Before Profit representatives said local people would continue to fight for their community needs.

Cllr MacVeigh also slammed the decision.

“The Liberties and the Dublin 8 area are being corporatised at the expense of one of the oldest communities in the city,” she said.

“I am horrified at this planning decision which sets a disastrous precedent for our city. When will this end?

“Residents are outraged. Instead of swathes of hotels and not-fit-for-purpose student accommodation, people in Dublin 8 want homes, amenities and schools. We want to know, what’s next for Dublin 8?”