Planning permission withdrawn for arcade at former Dublin butcher's
There was a rare moment of unity for Dublin City Council today as councillors rejoiced at news a planning request for an arcade on Ballyfermot Road had been withdrawn.
The proposed planning permission sought to turn 304 Ballyfermot Road, which was previously home to McLoughlin's Butchers, into an arcade. However, while councillors at the latest South Central Area Committee meeting were outlining their opposition to the development, a council representative revealed the request had been officially rescinded.
Before the withdrawal was revealed, Independent Councillor Vincent Jackson put forward his objection to the arcade and stated he knows first hand the effects of addition, as he had a brother deal with a gambling problem. “I see the damage to families. It’s no benefit to anybody and there should be a ban on these places,” he said.
“This is the last thing we need and Dublin City Council has done a disastrous job allowing the proliferation of businesses,” said Cllr Jackson. “There’s no doubt the Ballyfermot community doesn't want this. There’s enough gambling places already with all the bookies along Ballyfermot.”
Cllr Philip Sutcliffe expressed his delight at the withdrawal of the arcade stating that he too has witnessed gambling addiction among his family and friends. “It’s no good, especially beside a school where children will get involved,” he said.
Green Party Councillor Michael Pidgeon said that it’s important to show opposition to developments such as these and that the language within the Development Plan has made it easier to object to things like “slot machine halls.” He cited the recent pushback against a similar development in Dolphin's Barn as another success story.
“We need a wider point of agreement across the political spectrum that slot machines contribute nothing,” said Cllr Pidgeon. He added that for him they “rank up there with drug dealing” he said they should be voicing their opposition to the "purely extractive, purely exploitative” practice to party manifestos.
Also highlighting the opposition seen in Dolphin’s Barn, Cllr Darragh Moriarty said it was important to show resistance to such plans. “They’ll be back with more, so we need to keep meeting them with opposition,” he said.
Cllr Daithí Doolan, who brought forward the emergency motion, praised that the Council is able to “unite on issues like this” and that standing against gambling “preserves the dignity of our community.” He stressed that while some people are “flippant about gambling,” its effects can be extreme.
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