Planning granted for coffee kiosk in Buncrana’s Swan Park
Planning permission has been granted to build a new coffee kiosk in Buncrana’s popular Swan Park.
Planning permission has been granted to build a new coffee kiosk in Buncrana’s popular Swan Park.
The applicant Denis Doherty had sought permission to to erect the kiosk while retaining existing site preparation works.
As well as planning to erect the coffee business to dispense hot drinks and snacks to customers, Mr Doherty has been granted permission to place a holding tank for storage of food waste on the site.
This is the second application after the previous one was refused two years ago. The Planning Authority refused permission after it wasn’t satisfied by the information submitted that the proposed development would not result in parking and traffic issues.
An objection to the current application was submitted from the Committee of Buncrana Anglers Association, who were concerned the development would be “detrimental to the natural habitat of the Crana River and our bat population.”
Ciaran Fitzgerald, Secretary of Buncrana Anglers Association, outlined how bats in the Republic of Ireland are protected species and the area the kiosk will be situated in “does have a population of bats surveyed by bat conservation groups since 2019. The proposed development of the kiosk would have an adverse negative impact on the bat species present,” he said.
Buncrana Anglers also objected to the application as they believed that it would impact upon the natural habitat which is adjacent to the coffee kiosk.
“The area where the proposed development is would not have the capacity to facilitate parking and given the recent development of Swan Park in Buncrana, it would not be appropriate for the area and would lead to access and traffic issues if granted,” added Mr Fitzgerald.
Another objection was submitted by resident Anne Dixon Furnival, who lives across the lane from the development. Mrs Furnival objected to the previous application and stated that “as before, no request has been made to me to allow connection to my private water supply from the public main on the Cockhill Road.”
The Swan Park resident was also concerned about the impact of traffic congestion in the area that the coffee business would cause, as other activities and events had led to traffic problems.
“This winter the pre-Christmas festivities in the park resulted in parking chaos at the Cul de Sac of the Mill Lane and obstruction of my gateway,” she said.
Donegal County Council granted permission subject to 10 conditions. These included that the kiosk is restricted to the sale of hot drinks and snacks.
Before the commencement of the development, a bypass silt trap is to be installed, and all surface waters from the site are to be channelled to discharge through the trap before discharging into the river.
Another condition by the planning authority is that all waste should be disposed of in a holding tank, fitted with a sensor, “which shall be emptied regularly.”
Donegal County Council had requested further information from the applicant to provide auto track analysis for a delivery/waste disposal vehicle indicating entry, turning, unloading and exit points. After receiving the extra information, the planning authority stated that the “development is to be carried out strictly in accordance with lodged plans and details, particularly the following revised plans and details.”