Planning granted for arcade in Finglas Village as decision slammed
Planning permission to turn a former shop in a Dublin village centre into an amusement arcade has been granted - but the decision has been slammed. The ground floor of the building at 44 Main Street in Finglas has previously been used as a bike shop and a furniture shop. The site is also located next door to the village's medical centre. The planning application was lodged with Dublin City Council on February 13 by Mr Michael Ennis. The proposed development reads: "Change of use of the ground floor from commercial unit to gaming/amusement arcade with ancillary site works." Observations on the application were open until March 19, with a number of local groups voicing their objections. However, the application was granted permission by the Council on Tuesday. Local Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne has called the decision "a very negative step for the area". He said: “As has been pointed out by the Finglas Cabra Drug and Alcohol Task Force - an organisation that does great work in providing support for families of people with gambling-related issues – gaming/amusement arcade will normalise gambling, particularly for younger people. “A development like this is in direct conflict with the Dublin City Development Plan which prohibits amusement centres in residential areas Finglas Village already has five bookmaking shops, is this really a development that residents need? “It is well-known that Finglas Village has a close-knit community spirit and family-friendly environment. This proposed development does not align with the values of the area “There are serious concerns among residents that the development of a gambling-related business such as the one proposed could result in increased anti-social behaviour There are many services near the proposed development which cater to the needs for vulnerable people. “Finglas Village would be much better served by developments such as cultural spaces, restaurants, cafés, and shops, which serve and enrich the community.” A similar proposal for an arcade in the village was rejected in 2012. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
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