Youghals Supermac’s Granted Extended Hours
By Christy Parker | Photo Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)
Youghal Town Council has ‘temporarily’ granted a planning application for extended trading hours to Supermac’s fast food and restaurant, 54, South Main Street. The Council will permit a closing time of 2am on regular Fridays and Saturdays and on Sundays preceding Bank Holiday Mondays. Normal trading hours of 10am-12.30 am will persist Sunday-Thursdays.
The “temporary grant’ applies for two years and falls slightly short of the 2.30 a.m. extension that was sought. In explanation the Council says the area has “mixed uses” and that “In order to monitor the impacts of development on existing uses a two year temporary permission is required.” The permission also stipulates submission of “a Litter Management Plan for the footpath area 50m either side of the premises”, plus the provision of two “litter receptacles on the site.
Supermac’s proprietor, David Nevin, made the application through architectural consultant Kevin Power of Knockaverry. It was considered and approved by Town Architect Sean McLoughlin and Town Engineer Paul Murray before being sanctioned by Town Manager Patricia.
Local householder Harry Morrisson says the Council “overrode its own Planning Permission condition from 1989 that curtailed al fast food outlets from trading beyond 12.30am.” He is one of to 18 irate residents who submitted objections to the application. They claimed anti-social behaviour, noise, litter and sleep deprivation devastated their lives when Supermac’s previously contravened its original planning permission to cease trading by 12.30 a.m.
Mr. Nevin in turn claimed his security personnel discouraged anti-social behaviour and actually helped alleviate street congestion. Adding that his business boosted employment, he said failure of his application would have meant closing the business.
While Doyle’s chip shop -within 50 metres of Supermac’s- predates contemporary Trading Laws, it remains to be seen whether further fast food outlets in the town will mirror Supermac’s application.
Ultimately, all may be of temporary standing anyway. Ironically, Youghal Town Council’s decision coincides with Justice Minister Brian Linehan’s public indication that he is drawing up legislation to curtail opening hours for fast food outlets in the wake of ongoing anti-social problems. With the chips already down, perhaps a pinch of salt may be the most appropriate accruement to such planning permissions.
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