KILDARE: No support for street entrance plan at derelict Naas Shopping Centre

Kildare County council has doubled down on its opposition to a plan to demolish the Bank of Ireland premises facade to create a new entrance for the derelict Naas Shopping Centre.

The issue surfaced again at a Naas Municipal District meeting when two councillors - Evie Sammon who is mayor and the absent Seamie Moore - sought to have KCC write to the Minister For Housing, Local Government and Heritage seeking permission for the proposal.

But most councillors did not support them

KCC has already refuted a claim by Mr Roche that planning regulations allow for the demolition of a protected structure in exceptional circumstances.

Mr Roche made the claim in support of his campaign to create an entrance to the centre from the town’s main street.

This, he says, would mean demolishing part of the Bank of Ireland premises at that location.

KCC has already refused the application for the work on the basis that the building is protected. This would have been replaced with lighting stands and steel gates..

In May, KCC denied permission to alter the facade, pointing out that the buildings that would be affected by the proposal are of historical and archaeological importance. 

This decision was later appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the owner but the appeal was withdrawn.

KCC official Amy Granville told a Naas Municipal District she has serious concerns because the building is of regional importance as a historic building.

She said she did not recommend writing to the minister

Ms Granville also said she had never seen permission granted for the demolition of a structure which is of regional importance.

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She stressed that the significance of the structure is not confined to itself but is part of a streetscape which, under legislation, has to be protected.

She pointed out that a similar retail development in Kilkenny is built in an area with building of historic significance, including a workhouse. This demonstrates that both modern and old buildings can exist alongside each other but “this (the destruction of the facade)  is not the solution.”

She said the building is in an recognised conservation area “so it's’ not about the building alone.”

Ms Ganville also said that there are design solutions to the problem.

Cllr Bill Clear said “we need the shopping centre to open” and “as councillors we’re getting the blame for this.”

Cllr Clear said he had not seen a proper plan for the centre and said that hundreds of much needed car parking spaces could be readily provided at the site.

He said the removal of the facade “isn’t going to open the centre.”

He added: “The owners need to come up with a plan.”

Cllr Colm Kenny said there is a need to “decouple” the Bank of Ireland from the  Naas Shopping Centre.

He  pointed out that there are two other entrances to the centre and “progress on the centre is not contingent on the Bank of Ireland (issue).”

Cllr Carmel Kelly said the Bank of Ireland does not impact whether or not the centre opens.