Labour councillor Harry Barrett has welcomed draft legislation aimed at preventing head shops opening across the State without planning permission.
Under the terms of their draft Planning and Development (Amendment ) Bill 2010, planning permission would be required for a change of use of a premises to open a head shop. A similar Bill was previously published by the Labour party in relation to change of use of premises to open sex shops. Now both have been incorporated into the new draft Bill.
Cllr Barrett said the Bill, which will have to be introduced in the Dáil during private members’ time, would not fully ease current concerns over head shops but was “an element of the solution”.
“Our Bill offers an interim solution that would, if enacted, at a very minimum restrict the further spread of these outlets,” he said.
Part of the problem at present was they could open anywhere. “The proprietor of a grocery store, takeaway or internet cafe must apply and obtain planning permission to open for business.
“However, that same owner or a new owner can then decide to convert the premises into a head shop or a sex shop overnight without even having to apply to the local authority for planning permission for change of use.
“Because no specific planning permission is required for change of use from one existing retail function to another, members of local communities have no opportunity whatsoever to express any concerns they might have,” he added.
Particular concern has been expressed about the opening of both head shops and sex shops in locations that are particularly inappropriate.
For instance, local residents in Castlebar have been protesting last week about the opening of two head shops on an approach road to two local schools.
