Tesco in Bantry

mp22

black47 wrote: »

There is supposed to be a Lidl or Aldi going in there. Biggs/O'Keeffes supposed to be doing the deal. I'm not sure but I think there is a nationwide understanding between Supervalu and Lidl/Aldi that one won't object to the other in order to keep Tesco/Dunnes out.

This has been rumoured for some time but like everything there's nothing happening at the moment.

There has been a lot of talk about that,one point is the traffic flow in and out of that site would be impossible to manage.

black47

mp22 wrote: »

There has been a lot of talk about that,one point is the traffic flow in and out of that site would be impossible to manage.

I think the idea was to go in off bridge street and come out on market st. It would mean a lot of traffic coming up through the town though. Don't know anything about the planning status. Must check it out.

mp22

black47 wrote: »

I think the idea was to go in off bridge street and come out on market st. It would mean a lot of traffic coming up through the town though. Don't know anything about the planning status. Must check it out.

The small walled in car park behind the site that leads on to market street belongs to Kelly & co as far as I know.

mp22

mp22 wrote: »

The small walled in car park behind the site that leads on to market street belongs to Kelly & co as far as I know.

I stand corrected, took a walk around there today biggs wholesale car park is extended into the walled in one.

black47

black47 wrote: »

The plot thickens. Celticbuoy. Saw on CCC planning website today that the planning has not been refused and a further infomation request has gone out for the Biggs planning. I've previously seen this to mean that the council have a mind to grant it as long as the further information is up to scratch. Don't know whether there are any observations on the file so far. Will ring and check out and post an update

Heard second hand that there are a number of observations on the Biggs planning.

An Taisce - 2 liner about design and heritage of area
Tesco Developer-Maybe wants Biggs to use any influence they have to convince tesco site landowner to sell site to him and then he'll withdraw any future objection
County Architects department - design issues, waste management
Traveller in temp halting site next door-Complaining about loss of view!

There may be a couple more. Must ring myself.

celticbouy

black47 wrote: »

Heard second hand that there are a number of observations on the Biggs planning.

An Taisce - 2 liner about design and heritage of area
Tesco Developer-Maybe wants Biggs to use any influence they have to convince tesco site landowner to sell site to him and then he'll withdraw any future objection
County Architects department - design issues, waste management
Traveller in temp halting site next door-Complaining about loss of view!

There may be a couple more. Must ring myself.

cant understand why the fraveller would object due to the loss of view,
what view ? the town clock, the sun rise ,

mp22

The cynical answer to that is how much they want to give up said views.

celticbouy

to every body following this thread ,do you think that the tesco will ever be built in bantry ,i am losing hope at the moment , unfortunatelt:mad:

mp22

Just back from walking the dog past the site only thing that's been built there is bird nests.Not even a whisper in town about the place.

black47

mp22 wrote: »

Just back from walking the dog past the site only thing that's been built there is bird nests.Not even a whisper in town about the place.

It's hard to believe that the process of trying to rezone the land for Tesco started back in circa. 2007. All those years of effort with rezoning, planning, An bord pleanala appeals and when the developers finally get their planning, nothing happens. Bantry always seems to be 1 step behind every other town in west cork when it should be the premier town.

mp22

black47 wrote: »

It's hard to believe that the process of trying to rezone the land for Tesco started back in circa. 2007. All those years of effort with rezoning, planning, An bord pleanala appeals and when the developers finally get their planning, nothing happens. Bantry always seems to be 1 step behind every other town in west cork when it should be the premier town.

I was just thinking how long the bypass has been talked about.If I hear anything of interest during the week end I will post it.

black47

mp22 wrote: »

I was just thinking how long the bypass has been talked about.If I hear anything of interest during the week end I will post it.

I rem something about a few years ago. They were going to start phase 1. It was going to start at the Westlodge and pass by the new Gaelscoil and Community Schools. providing bus access to the schools and direct access to the hospital from that side of town. Even that would have reduced some of the traffic coming into town and up the mill hill.

I thought that it was through statutary approvals and was ready to proceed. Probably cancelled due to financial crisis. Phase 2 was going to continue over towards slip park and come out beyond Quick pick.

celticbouy

has the tesco dream died:(

shamrock55

This is bantry we are talking about nothing gets done here

mp22

celticbouy wrote: »

has the tesco dream died:(

It looks like it is gone.

shamrock55 wrote: »

This is bantry we are talking about nothing gets done here

Tut tut we go the new school last year,I cant remember when they started talking about it.The new square that leaves no parking for anyone on Fridays.Oh and the nice new half round building at the end of the square.

sonnyblack

mp22 wrote: »

It looks like it is gone.

I heard that it's gone alright. All all accounts the principal developer has not got the money to finance it because of being caught out on another project. It's such a shame. Maybe the fact that the land has now been zoned might encourage another big name such as dunnes to take up the running with the site. At least it has forced Biggs into going for planning to build down by the slob. The town will get a new store and proper parking out of it.

tech

No more news of Tesco in Bantry so ?

mp22

tech wrote: »

No more news of Tesco in Bantry so ?

Not a word I`m afraid.

Edgey75

to be honest i dont know what half of the fuss is about, something like 80% of bantry people dont shop in bantry, supervalue is dire compaired to the one over in skib, bantry really needs some competition.
that said i will still go to my butchers as their meat is 100% better than supermarket meat

sonnyblack

I see that Biggs/O'Keefee have resubmitted their planning for the ESB site down near the strand. They had to re-advertise and resubmit a new application due to all the additional information being requested. They are taking a bit of land off the council car park as well for the scheme. They should have plannned and built this scheme years ago rather than holding the town to ransom with their monopoly. Their hand is being forced now. People are voting with their feet now and shopping in Kenmare, Skibb Dunmanway Clon and even Cronins Ballylickey. Expecting elderly people to push their trolleys down the square on a winters day is ridiculous. I'd say that they must have an understanding that the planning will be granted.

I've also heard that the Tesco deal is not dead and talks with the landowner are still going on. Could be a bit of movement in the next few months. These 2 schemes could put the town back on track. A number of pubs and shops have/will be closing in the next few months by all accounts due to lack of business. These schemes together with the inner harbour plans (planning granted) could put the town back on the map as the place in West Cork to shop and do business and visit. Big shout out to Cllr Mary Hegarty. She invited reps of 6/7 cruise liners to see the sights around the town before Christmas. This will encourage passengers to disembark onto the newly constructed pontoons and spend their money during the summer season. Clever woman

sonnyblack

I see that Biggs have a decision to grant permission for their proposed development down near the strand. The Tesco Developer has put in an observation on the planning so will most likely appeal the deciision to An Bord Pleanala. This will delay any development for up to a year. I can't understand why both parties couldn't have met years ago and come to some sort of agreement in relation to not objecting to each others plans. Clonakilty have Supervalu, Dunnes and either a Lidl or Aldi on it's way. The town is flying even though it's not a patch on Bantry for scenic setting. Bantry can't seem to see that the more choices you have for retail, the more people will come to town and make a day out of it spending their money in pubs and restaurants and indeed smaller retailers around town. The town is the most scenically impressive in the county particularily with the Inner harbour plans and yet there is practically no reason for shoppers to visit. 2 steps forward 1 step back with the locals being the big losers

shamrock55

sonnyblack wrote: »

I see that Biggs/O'Keefee have resubmitted their planning for the ESB site down near the strand. They had to re-advertise and resubmit a new application due to all the additional information being requested. They are taking a bit of land off the council car park as well for the scheme. They should have plannned and built this scheme years ago rather than holding the town to ransom with their monopoly. Their hand is being forced now. People are voting with their feet now and shopping in Kenmare, Skibb Dunmanway Clon and even Cronins Ballylickey. Expecting elderly people to push their trolleys down the square on a winters day is ridiculous. I'd say that they must have an understanding that the planning will be granted.

I've also heard that the Tesco deal is not dead and talks with the landowner are still going on. Could be a bit of movement in the next few months. These 2 schemes could put the town back on track. A number of pubs and shops have/will be closing in the next few months by all accounts due to lack of business. These schemes together with the inner harbour plans (planning granted) could put the town back on the map as the place in West Cork to shop and do business and visit. Big shout out to Cllr Mary Hegarty. She invited reps of 6/7 cruise liners to see the sights around the town before Christmas. This will encourage passengers to disembark onto the newly constructed pontoons and spend their money during the summer season. Clever woman

Ha ha i have to laugh at this, disembark on the newly constructed pontoons is right, another pie in the sky dream for bantry, ill believe it when i see it.

another thing whatever happened to the sports complex in bantry that they were fundraising for and local councillors were collecting for, i gave one of those muppets 50 euro, where is that gone to i wonder, no mention of it for years now. This is one corrupt little town, oh and cllr mary hagerty shops in skibb in lidl, i know cos ive seen her there many times trying to hide when spotted, with the likes of these people running our town what fcuking hope have we!!

shamrock55

sonnyblack wrote: »

I see that Biggs have a decision to grant permission for their proposed development down near the strand. The Tesco Developer has put in an observation on the planning so will most likely appeal the deciision to An Bord Pleanala. This will delay any development for up to a year. I can't understand why both parties couldn't have met years ago and come to some sort of agreement in relation to not objecting to each others plans. Clonakilty have Supervalu, Dunnes and either a Lidl or Aldi on it's way. The town is flying even though it's not a patch on Bantry for scenic setting. Bantry can't seem to see that the more choices you have for retail, the more people will come to town and make a day out of it spending their money in pubs and restaurants and indeed smaller retailers around town. The town is the most scenically impressive in the county particularily with the Inner harbour plans and yet there is practically no reason for shoppers to visit. 2 steps forward 1 step back with the locals being the big losers

Its called greed because a certain crowd want a manopoly on everthing and only want to fill their own pockets and feck the rest, thats why we dont have any lidl, or aldi or dunnes, or much of anything in fact, and wont either for the foreseable:mad:

sonnyblack

Biggs planning appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Surprise Surprise. 1 third party appeal. It'll be up online in a few days. Has to be the Tesco Developer I'll wager.

2 steps forward. 1 step back.

Aldi got it's decision to move ahead in Skibb from An Bord Pleanala.

Someone will be running buses over there from Bantry on a Friday before long

shamrock55

Whats new, welcome to bantry the appeals capital of ireland where nothing gets done and nobody wants it done either

sonnyblack

shamrock55 wrote: »

Whats new, welcome to bantry the appeals capital of ireland where nothing gets done and nobody wants it done either

Shamrock55 Have you heard any rumours recently about the Newtown site. I'm hearing recent murmurs that someone will be going in there. Logic would say it is tesco rather than somebody else coming in and changing the planning again.

shamrock55

sonnyblack wrote: »

Shamrock55 Have you heard any rumours recently about the Newtown site. I'm hearing recent murmurs that someone will be going in there. Logic would say it is tesco rather than somebody else coming in and changing the planning again.

No sonny, i havent heard anything regarding tesco in a while now, i imagine if someone is going to newtown it will be tesco, i'll keep an ear out and report back if i hear anything;)

sonnyblack

Biggs planning application to relocate supervalu down near the strand has been refused at An Bord pleanala. See link below

http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/243290.htm

Complete crash and burn. Wrong zoning, not in the spirit of the area development plan, unsatisfactory materials for an area of scenic importance. Makes the cork county council grant decision look fairly sad. The tesco developer was the main 3rd party apellant. The tit for tat objections between Biggs & Tesco Developer continue to the detriment of the town and it's people who are now left with a outdated Supervalu and nothing else. Elderly people still have to push a triolley down the square on a wet winters day. The only thing to hope for now is that the Tesco developer who has planning will come up with the money to proceed with the shell and core of the unit to allow Tesco to fit out and open. That said tesco's proficts of late haven't been great and will they still have an interest to open in Bantry? Doom and Gloom all around I'm afraid

CJhaughey

sonnyblack wrote: »

Biggs planning application to relocate supervalu down near the strand has been refused at An Bord pleanala. See link below

http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/243290.htm

Complete crash and burn. Wrong zoning, not in the spirit of the area development plan, unsatisfactory materials for an area of scenic importance. Makes the cork county council grant decision look fairly sad. The tesco developer was the main 3rd party apellant. The tit for tat objections between Biggs & Tesco Developer continue to the detriment of the town and it's people who are now left with a outdated Supervalu and nothing else. Elderly people still have to push a triolley down the square on a wet winters day. The only thing to hope for now is that the Tesco developer who has planning will come up with the money to proceed with the shell and core of the unit to allow Tesco to fit out and open. That said tesco's proficts of late haven't been great and will they still have an interest to open in Bantry? Doom and Gloom all around I'm afraid

No more than Bantry deserved I am afraid.
The decision to quash permission was the right one, what other town with a Maritime heritage and view like Bantry would allow a supermarket to be built on the waterfront?
For too long the principal objectors to all kinds of development have been the party denied planning. They have only themselves to blame, and their idea to use the council carpark as a defacto carpark for their supermarket has backfired spectacularly.
I would love to see another supermarket open in Bantry but as long as the cosy cartel holds sway I can't see it happening, all over the rest of West Cork other towns have embraced competition and encouraged other companies to locate in their area. Dunmanway, Kenmare and Skibbereen are prime examples of the positive energy that can come from competition.
Bantry is the example of what happens when vested interests have too much power and stop development.
I for one am glad that this plan has been scuppered.

shamrock55

I was delighted biggs got turned down, no way they should be allowed to build a bloody supermarket down there, i see clon has a new lidl now, and macroom is getting an aldi i think, every town in west cork has a dunnes or a lidl or aldi now at this stage , some have 2 and some even have 3.
bantry is a fcuking disgrace and should be embarrassed because i know i am:mad:

CJhaughey

shamrock55 wrote: »

I was delighted biggs got turned down, no way they should be allowed to build a bloody supermarket down there, i see clon has a new lidl now, and macroom is getting an aldi i think, every town in west cork has a dunnes or a lidl or aldi now at this stage , some have 2 and some even have 3.
bantry is a fcuking disgrace and should be embarrassed because i know i am:mad:

No Point being embarassed, just make it known, I buy as little as possible from their businesses.
Murphy & O'Connor etc etc.

sonnyblack

Indeed the chickens have come home to roost for Biggs O'Keefee. They were the driving force behind the objections to Tesco under the Bantry Businesses banner even if they didn't sign the appeal. I hear they also bought a house in glengarriff road to stop a possible entrance to a low budget store being previously considered by the now Tesco Developer behind O'Learys garage. Of course he was going to get his own back. What did they expect? The only hope now is that the tesco developer will get the money together to strike a deal with the difficult Rowa owner to buy the land and build the unit. Though, he's been burnt financially himself by another deal involving buying Vickerys Hotel on New Street.
Same old storey for Bantry I'm afraid. Skibb, Dunmanway & Macroom will be reaping the benifits of bantry people travelling out of town to shop

shamrock55

I can see biggs building a sv on the boys club site, wait and see!!

sonnyblack

Would there be enough parking around there shamrock?

shamrock55

There was a rumour a few years back of them building a super value there with a car park on top, similar to the one in clon

who the fug

shamrock55 wrote: »

I can see biggs building a sv on the boys club site, wait and see!!

What happened to the Boys Club ?

mp22

who the fug wrote: »

What happened to the Boys Club ?

Nothing.

westcorklad

some people here are just hilarious they way they be talkin bout biggs. just cause a family worked hard to build up a business over generations does not make them greedy..there is a hell of a lot of people in bantry who are too lazy to go out and do a days work and it is they who are contributing to bantrys decline. a new shop deffo needed....either supervalu/aldi /lidl but would be worried bout tesco. bantry has a great mix of small shops and a lot of these would not survive with even a small drop in sales. supervalu is old and outdated but people need to remember these people provided jobs and security to generations of people in bantry(own family included) and i just find it disusting how easily this is forgoton!!

sonnyblack

westcorklad wrote: »

some people here are just hilarious they way they be talkin bout biggs. just cause a family worked hard to build up a business over generations does not make them greedy..there is a hell of a lot of people in bantry who are too lazy to go out and do a days work and it is they who are contributing to bantrys decline. a new shop deffo needed....either supervalu/aldi /lidl but would be worried bout tesco. bantry has a great mix of small shops and a lot of these would not survive with even a small drop in sales. supervalu is old and outdated but people need to remember these people provided jobs and security to generations of people in bantry(own family included) and i just find it disusting how easily this is forgoton!!

Your arguement is well made but I would disagree with some of the points. Biggs have had a stranglehold over retail in bantry since God knows when. Any other retail unit that trys to set up are ojected to, appealled to and houses bought on roads to stop entrances being built. This results is tit for tat objections with rival developers and schemes like the railway pier scheme being objected to and canned. They may say what they like in public but privately what do they care? They still have the monopoly. There is a figure of something like 40/50% of bantry people do their shopping out of town in Skibb, Dunmanway & Macroom. How is that small businesses in these towns can survive and thrive. Very simple, people do their big shop and then walk around town afterwards, have a cup of coffee and lunch, browse the shops and buy. That ensures that small shops do survive. It's all about footfall. Tractors restaurant closed last week. A nice restaurant serving good food. No footfall. No business. No future. A town that has the finest natural setting in the country will always be in the doldrums because there are no modern brand name shops to bring people to town.

shamrock55

westcorklad wrote: »

some people here are just hilarious they way they be talkin bout biggs. just cause a family worked hard to build up a business over generations does not make them greedy..there is a hell of a lot of people in bantry who are too lazy to go out and do a days work and it is they who are contributing to bantrys decline. a new shop deffo needed....either supervalu/aldi /lidl but would be worried bout tesco. bantry has a great mix of small shops and a lot of these would not survive with even a small drop in sales. supervalu is old and outdated but people need to remember these people provided jobs and security to generations of people in bantry(own family included) and i just find it disusting how easily this is forgoton!!

Stupid comment tbh, every town has unemployed people, while your at it can you point out any industry in bantry for these so called lazy people to get a job, because not only is there no decent supermarket here but there is fcuk all industry or job opportunities either

Edgey75

as shamrock55 says their is not much opertunity in bantry and the areas around, even the CE schemes usually have a ton of applicants never mind the propper jobs that occasionaly pop up, if you have employment in bantry count yourself as lucky as some people try and try and dont often get a responce back to even say no. in the last 4 years and countless jobs i have applied for in the bantry area ive had 1 email saying sorry the job has gone better luck next time, i can count the number of interviews ive had on one hand. its disheartening and depressing that the place that makes me happy to live causes me so much stress and anger due to lack of work opertunitys.

im unemployed and i certainly aint lazy i spend a hour plus a day looking over job sites, i do things around the house, gardening, doing things down the veg plot/polly tunnel growing veg to keep costs down. and when i get time i do some more to the classic vehicle im slowly restoring on a budget so small it needs a microscope to view, i drop and pick my kids up from school and pop in on my parents if my mam hasnt called in, i also pop in on friends a couple times a week. just out of interest i would like to point out i have a disability after a industrial accident and could probably go on disability if i really wanted to, but i dont, i want to work in a suitable job. so yeah unemployed people are lazy aint they, they dont do anything to look for work and just sit around all day scratching their bums...

sonnyblack

Edgey75 wrote: »

as shamrock55 says their is not much opertunity in bantry and the areas around, even the CE schemes usually have a ton of applicants never mind the propper jobs that occasionaly pop up, if you have employment in bantry count yourself as lucky as some people try and try and dont often get a responce back to even say no. in the last 4 years and countless jobs i have applied for in the bantry area ive had 1 email saying sorry the job has gone better luck next time, i can count the number of interviews ive had on one hand. its disheartening and depressing that the place that makes me happy to live causes me so much stress and anger due to lack of work opertunitys.

im unemployed and i certainly aint lazy i spend a hour plus a day looking over job sites, i do things around the house, gardening, doing things down the veg plot/polly tunnel growing veg to keep costs down. and when i get time i do some more to the classic vehicle im slowly restoring on a budget so small it needs a microscope to view, i drop and pick my kids up from school and pop in on my parents if my mam hasnt called in, i also pop in on friends a couple times a week. just out of interest i would like to point out i have a disability after a industrial accident and could probably go on disability if i really wanted to, but i dont, i want to work in a suitable job. so yeah unemployed people are lazy aint they, they dont do anything to look for work and just sit around all day scratching their bums...

Well said. Makes you wonder what additional employment oppurtunities there would be in the town if the main retail Owners/developers could put aside their differences and facilitate new retail outlets. We live in hope I guess.

sonnyblack

Lack of sites chills Iceland’s Irish expansion plan

Company intends to open up to 60 new stores

Iceland, which has upwards of 800 stores employing more than 20,000 staff in the UK, as well six stores it owns in Ireland, announced its plan to expand here in November after buying back its Irish franchise from the AIM


Malcolm Walker, the founder of the UK retail chain Iceland Foods, says its plan to open between 50 and 60 new stores in Ireland, which would create more than 1,000 new jobs, is being held back by difficulties acquiring suitable sites.


http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/retail-and-services/lack-of-sites-chills-iceland-s-irish-expansion-plan-1.1797733

Come to Bantry for God's sake. There are plenty sites down there!!

Baywindow

Reading all your note worthy comments...except for 'sonnyblack'...who does he think he is?
I wonder does he even live in Bantry? Anyway it's about time some level of sustainable development happens within the town. Unlike most other west cork towns Bantry has a unique topography...this often hinders development and potential site development within the town core and immediate environs...therefore it is inivitible that some level of 'out-of-town' development will have to occur around Bantry where the land is available and which can be developed. This is inivtible going forward. There are no proper sites within the town core for such a large developemnt of any 'supermarket'...have Biggs ever considered demolishing their current site and redeveloping, perhaps with a few upper levels with user friendly access to same? A footbridge link to their current car parking arrangements could be an idea?..The sea front should be retained for maritime facilities and tourist projects....in my opinion this area is not suitable for a 'supermarket' and hopefully when the new marina commences it will be a catalyst for a bit more low-key development down there. If the existing supervalue site was to be re-developed perhaps the developers could first build on the former Hurley Garage site (for which they have permission) and this would enable them to continue trading until the existing supermarket site is re-developed. As they say...short term pain for long term gain! They can then sell or lease their 'Hurley garage site' to Lidl or Aldi..win win for all!!

mp22

The Hurley garage site would be a nightmare for heavy trucks to get in and out of.ie artics.

Baywindow

mp22 wrote: »

The Hurley garage site would be a nightmare for heavy trucks to get in and out of.ie artics.

But sure the Council granted permission...one would assume they noted this?...

sonnyblack

Win win win for all says bay window. What on earth are you talking about. Redevelop the current Biggs site. Yes leave old women continue to push their trolleys down the square on a winters day. Biggs will never develop the hurleys site. Why would they when they have the monopoly. NIMBY bay window. Not in myback yard. People like you are content to continue with 40% of bantry people shopping out if town and young people in Canada and Perth rather than have retail jobs in town from a major brand name

Baywindow

sonnyblack wrote: »

Win win win for all says bay window. What on earth are you talking about. Redevelop the current Biggs site. Yes leave old women continue to push their trolleys down the square on a winters day. Biggs will never develop the hurleys site. Why would they when they have the monopoly. NIMBY bay window. Not in myback yard. People like you are content to continue with 40% of bantry people shopping out if town and young people in Canada and Perth rather than have retail jobs in town from a major brand name

Dear sonnyblack...there are more customers than just old ladies...in any case it seems to me like the business people of bantry have shot themselves on the foot on this one...why all the objections and whining...bantry is in the doldrums as far as I can see...I agree completely with you and other writers regards the seepage of shoppers...to the benefit of other west cork towns might it be said...it's about time the business people of the town wake up and smell the coffee...you need to move onwards and upwards...look at other model towns in the region...bantry has much more to offer...the icing on the cake would be a reasonable level of retail outlets to choose from...the sooner this debacle is sorted the better for the town... Can I also add that I hope the 'tesco' project proceeds in some form..all jobs welcome from the process and let the other business's in town adapt and move with the times.

sonnyblack

As I've said already on this thread. Nothing will happen retail wise in the town until Biggs and the tesco developer sit down and agree some sort of non objection pact. Phase 1 of the inner harbour will start in the next 6 months. While it will be welcome it won't bring enough business to the town. A big brand name or 2 will bring people into the town to spend their money. If macroom skibb and clon can do it why not bantry. One reason too much backbiting between rival business people with the townspeople being the losers

Baywindow

sonnyblack wrote: »

As I've said already on this thread. Nothing will happen retail wise in the town until Biggs and the tesco developer sit down and agree some sort of non objection pact. Phase 1 of the inner harbour will start in the next 6 months. While it will be welcome it won't bring enough business to the town. A big brand name or 2 will bring people into the town to spend their money. If macroom skibb and clon can do it why not bantry. One reason too much backbiting between rival business people with the townspeople being the losers

That will never happen...surely blood is thicker than water and all that...why would they need to 'agree' anything??..what needs to happen here, in my opinion, is that more land needs to be zoned on the outskirts of town and leave it to the 'developers' to pick and choose..if the land is zoned properly then there can be no real redress to planning appeals...all be it one can just delay any commencement...I for one hope for a successful outcome for the shoppers of the town...Rome was'nt built in a day but by god Bantry is taking its time in moving forward...I also heard that vickery site has been delisted from conservation zoning...would sonnyblack know anything in this regard...shame to see that shop front and facade be destroyed?