Politicians in Kilkenny have reacted with dismay to a decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for a Tesco store in the county.
They say the store would have created up to 200 jobs and pumped "millions of euro" in wages into the local economy. The decision means Kilkenny will remain the only county in Ireland without a branch of the British supermarket chain which operates 96 shops throughout the other 25 counties in the Republic.
Kilkenny County Council had already approved the rezoning of land and granted planning permission for the store in the town of Callan close to the Tipperary border. The application was submitted by the landowner, Richard Holden, and envisaged a retail outlet of some 26,000 sq ft and car parking for 243 cars. But objections from the owners of the town's existing Super-Valu supermarket and one local resident were lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
The board yesterday said it had refused permission because the proposed development "on an important site at the entry to Callan" would be "contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area"; would "seriously injure the visual amenities of the area"; and, would "seriously injure the amenities of adjoining residential properties".
However, the chairman of Kilkenny County Council, Cllr Tom Maher (FG) said he was "extremely disappointed" and claimed the "vast majority of people" want the store. Apart from "up to 120 permanent jobs", he said the project would have created "up to 60 temporary construction jobs".
He added that shoppers were forced to travel "at great inconvenience" to Tesco stores in neighbouring counties and would "continue to do so" to the detriment of Kilkenny's economy.
Cllr Matt Doran (FF) was "absolutely disgusted and hugely disappointed" that the town would lose out on the estimated €2.5 million in annual wages which would have been paid. He deplored a decision made by "a body of people [ An Bord Pleanála] from outside of the area who have no idea about the social and economic issues involved".
He said "Callan needs a store like Tesco in order to survive". Mr Doran called on people "to lobby the media, public representatives and Tesco" to ensure that the company did not give up on the town.
Séamus Banim, a spokesman for Tesco Ireland, said the company would not comment until it had an opportunity to review the decision. The company claims its activities are worth an annual €2.5 billion to the economy.
Tesco employs over 13,000 people in Ireland and provides a further "10,000 jobs in supplier firms" and "4,000 plus jobs are supported directly by exports of Irish products".