Planning for Tipperary gaming hall granted despite objections – ‘Women and children will suffer’
Planning permission for a gaming hall in a busy Tipperary town has been approved despite objections against its development and fears the development that “women and children will suffer” if it is allowed to go ahead.
Coalquay Leisure applied to Tipperary County Council for planning permission to change the use of a vacant shop unit on Silver Street in Nenagh to an arcade centre.
However, a number of objections were recieved to the application, with one stating that if permission were to be given, that it would harm women and children.
"We do not need another gambling hall,” the objection said. "If passed, women and children will suffer. If you say no, it will help women and children”.
As well as that, the objection said that “gambling is not a business, it is a disease and you hold the cure”.
There are currently a number of betting offices and arcades in the area, raising fears about the proliferation of these types of businesses.
Another objection stated that the granting of planning permission would represent an overconcentration of this type of premises in Nenagh, and would be “detrimental” to the character of the town and the local community.
"Allowing further development of this kind risks creating an imbalance in the local community,” the objection said.
"A disproportionate number of properties in the same use can erode the mix of residents or businesses, undermining the area’s social fabric,” they noted.
Despite the objections, Tipperary County Council granted permission for the development subject to five conditions.
The conditions include that the premises only be used for the purposes outlined in the planning application, that the opening hours be restricted to 9am to 6pm Monday to Sunday, and that rubbish bins only be stored in a designated refuse area.