Strong opposition to proposed location of Dunboyne Lidl store

Plans by Lidl to develop a store on a site adjacent to the church in Dunboyne have been met by growing opposition locally over the proposed location.

Last week, Lidl announced its intention to build a supermarket in the village on a site located between St Peter and Paul's Church and the parochial house which has a car park to the front with a field behind. Their plans include a supermarket and car parking, as well retail units to the front of the site. The site was church owned and was sold last year by St Finian's Diocesan Trust last year, with an advertised a guide price of €2.5m at the time.

According to Lidl, the development will bring up to €12 million in local investment to the community, as well as creating 30 new jobs at the store and 100 during construction and development stages.

However, serious concerns have been expressed locally that the development would take away from the character of the village as well as concerns over access for delivery trucks. There have also been questions raised over what changes are being proposed to the village green to allow for the development including changes to car parking, with any changes set to face huge opposition.

While Lidl has given assurances that the village green will be staying in tact and that no trees would be removed, they did confirm some trees would need to be pruned to allow trucks to come in and out.

Local community activist Sean Henry said: "Our main issue with the proposal is that it is going to take away from the whole character of the village. Our village is one in a million, with the green and the terraced houses. It is just an absolute 'no no' that Lidl would come in with their neon signs. The access is also not suitable and just won't work, it is as simple as that.

"The room is not there for big trucks. I drive one myself so I know what it is like to get in and out. Without them taking a piece out of the village green, it won't work.

"It is absolutely the wrong location. We have no problem with Lidl coming to Dunboyne. The location is just not suitable, it is as simple as that."

Lidl will brief the local community on their plans at a zoom session on Tuesday evening 25th January at 6.30pm and have committed to holding a drop in session to talk to the community about their plans in the coming weeks with a date and venue to be confirmed.

A planning application is expected to be lodged by Lidl next month on their plans.

Cllr Damien O’Reilly has expressed serious concerns about the pending planning application and said the overview map appeared to highlight significant changes to the layout of the island and parking spaces within Dunboyne village which he found "completely unacceptable". He also said the development appeared to contravene the Dunboyne Architectural Conservation Area document and and he also raised concerns over access and bringing articulated vehicles into the village.

Cllr Maria Murphy said: "Most people in the village would welcome a Lidl store but not on this particular site." She said it is part of the architectural conservation area and also felt the development was premature given the infrastructure issues in the area.