CavanBusiness.ie

There are some key facts below.

If you wish to submit an objection to the Town Council, you can choose whichever points you feel most strongly about. Please elaborate on the points that you feel are most relevant to you.

Job Losses
Research has shown that for every 20 jobs a large retailer like Tesco creates, 30 jobs are lost through the closure of local small businesses within 2-3 years.  Will this affect you?
Source:  Dr. Martin Caraher, City University London, on RTE’s ‘What Ireland Eats’.

Loss and deterioration of public services.
Cavan Town Council relies on rates paid to them by local businesses to support local public services.  These services will become increasingly difficult to provide if local businesses close due to a Tesco Superstore.                                                                                                                                                            This means less money for local services such as:

• Childcare support services
• Homecare support for the elderly
• Litter collection
• Road sweeping and maintenance
• Street Lighting
• Leisure facilities
• Library services etc

 

Bypass Cavan Town?
The plan for the new superstore, whether on purpose or not, is clearly designed to encourage people to drive to the Tesco Carpark, shop in Tesco and thus by-pass Cavan Town Centre completely.

Free Parking?
Why should Tesco shoppers have free parking when town customers have pay parking?
This is a grossly unfair advantage.

Closure of local small business
who inevitably are no longer able to compete with the unfair advantages that the edge-of-town superstore brings to Tesco.

Damage to social fabric of town.
Loss of community spirit, loss of support for local sports, arts & community initiatives that are typically supported by our local small businesses.

Cavan’s streets full of boarded-up shops.
Inevitably, the increase in local business going out of business will lead to Cavan resembling a ghost town.

Ghost Town
A ghost town full of empty, closed-down shops will inevitably lead to a rise in Anti-social behaviour.

Cheap Alcohol
The increased availability of cheap alcohol will exacerbate alcohol-related problems in Cavan.
Source:  Alcohol Action Ireland.  Alcohol in Ireland – Tackling the Financial Hangover

Other Sites?
Other possible sites for a store have not been fully explored.

Contravening Irish Law!

1.  Under the Local Government (Planning & Development) General Policy Directive (Shopping) 1998, Local Authorities must ensure that the new superstore won’t have an effect on established retail and employment. It has been proven in the UK study by the National Retail Planning Forum that 276 jobs are LOST in the local economy every time a new superstore opens.

2.  Under the same Directive, Local Authorities must ensure that the needs of the elderly, infirm and disabled that are dependent on local, independent shops are considered. ‘The Report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Small Shops: High Street Britain 2015’ claims that large superstores decrease social inclusion amongst the most vulnerable in our society. This is due to the closure of small shops, since these sectors of our society rely on the regular social contact that they get from small shopkeepers.

3.  According to the above Directive, the new superstore should prove that it will link effectively with the town centre so that there is commercial synergy. It is clear to see from the plans (see Pictures), that the store will have its back to the town. The only means of linkage is via a small lift and walkway. How can this be considered to be effective linkage? Who will use the lift when it is dark (this is 4pm in the winter), and it’s icy? Will this area become a place for crime/anti-social behaviour? How will a young mother with two or three children negotiate her way from the lift to the town and then back again to Tesco’s car park – it is not convenient!

5.  There is sufficient grocery provision in the town and out of town at present. There is no need for another store, let alone a superstore. We have two Supervalu stores, one Lidl, one Aldi, one Dunnes Stores, and the existing Tesco store in town.

6.  Under the Directive, it has to prove that the large superstore will not cause an adverse impact on the town centre. To prove that it will not undermine the economic life and social life of the community.  As stated above, it will cause job losses and shop closures. This will lead to boarded up shops which will attract vandalism.

7.  The superstore plans must support the long term strategic goals of the town’s development plan. It does not.  The plan states: ‘In order for the town centre to achieve its full potential and continually improve as a retail and service destination, it will be appropriate and necessary to adopt a pro-active role in enhancing its vitality and viability.’ (page 24)

The Cavan Town and Environs Plan 2008 – 2014 includes the following:

a)     page 29: ‘The need to have a sequential site selection process and retail impact assessment for any significant new retailing to ensure that alternative out of centre locations are both JUSTIFIED, MINIMISE the ‘DECENTRALISATION’ of retailing activity and are NON-THREATENING to the established retailing in the centre.

b)     Page 29: The plan will ‘promote and encourage IN CENTRE locations for all major retailing activity.

c)      Page 30: The aim is to ‘PROMOTE, STRENGTHEN and PROTECT the retail function of Cavan town. Facilitate EXPANSION and IMPROVEMENT of EXISTING shopping areas. (According to the council’s own plan Tesco should therefore be improving and expanding existing store)

d)     P34: ‘The scale, layout, form and design of all new retail development must respect and enhance the existing town character.’

8.  The large scale development will have an adverse effect on tourism to the town. Cavan is the first built Irish town. The towering structure will destroy the visual appeal of the town and make it a less desirable place to live, work and visit.

The reduction in employment will have a knock-on effect to the county’s town’s economy.

Archaeology
Archaeologists have found historic artefacts on the site and have called for more work to be done on the current site to explore Cavan’s rich history.

Beside the School
Right beside St. Clare’s primary school – increased traffic and young children in close proximity!  Where can the school develop further now the land is gone?

Monster Syndrome
Aesthetically it will tower over the town, with the rear facing the town – this doesn’t fit the aesthetic of our town.

How to Object – write a letter including the following:

• Your name & address (for correspondence)
• The Plan File Number: 11/1992
• Your reason(s) for objecting.
• Enclose payment of €20 with the letter.
• Post to:
  Town Clerk,
  Cavan Town Council,
  Town Hall St,
  Cavan.

Objections must be received by August 22nd. (The last day of the Fleadh)

Please SIGN THE PETITION if you do not wish to lodge an objection.