After the publicans’ price freeze the other week, it looks like more glad tidings for the drinkers of Athlone with the news that two more off-licences have been given the green light by the local planning department.
Anne Hayden is to change the ground floor of her pub at 88, Sean Costello Street into an off-licence, while just a little further out the Dublin Road, John McNeill is to convert a section of his Londis to the same.
Elsewhere, in what is a traditionally quiet time for the planners, restaurants seem to be the next largest industry sector to figure in the planning pages.
Over in the Left Bank Mall on Pearse Street, Eric Dilworth and Imelda Geraghty have applied to convert a shop into a new restaurant.
Further on in the process, Jianye Ni has been asked for more information regarding his plans to convert offices at 14-16, Church Street into a restaurant.
The same has been asked of Dermot Flynn who is hoping to retain his takeaway at the Club Sandwich in Bunavalley.
In a positive move by Arcadia Developments, plans have been submitted to convert an office into a 43 sq m hairdressing training facility at the neighbourhood centre on the One Mile.
The improvements of the lakeshore continue with the news that the second oldest yacht club in the world, the Lough Ree Yacht Club, is hoping to reconstruct and extend its foreshore and build a new slipway at Meehanquarter, Coosan.
Further out, Michael Barrett is hoping to hear shortly about his designs to demolish and re-build an existing jetty at the Lakeside Marina in Ballykeeran Big.
Also on the leisure side of things, Ann Derwin is expecting a decision this week on her plans for a new equestrian training centre at the Derries townland.
Whether it’s Christmas or the crunch, there is only one sizeable traditional building project in the most recent planning lists.
Flancare is looking to build three new warehouses with a total floor space of 5,000 sqm at its premises out in the Blyry industrial estate.
Stalwarts McInerney Homes has submitted new plans concerning its big project in Cornamaddy, but these are only to re-arrange the previously granted lay-out of 19 terraced houses on the site.
In what should be a neighbouring project, Candeo Developments has been asked for more detail concerning its plans for a new 2.3ha neighbourhood centre at Cornamagh on the Ballymahon Road.
If given the go-ahead, this will include a 1,000 sqm anchor store with off-licence, 13 smaller shops, a cafe, medical centre, 26 townhouses and 18 apartments. A decision is expected on this within the next week or so.
The biggest knock-back this week is the refusal handed down to Emmet O’Donoghue who had hoped to demolish Windyridge House in Cartrontroy and replace it with 13 apartments in a 3-4 storey block.
