By Alan Healy
There is opposition to plans for a new pizzeria at the site of a former book store in the city centre which closed down over four years ago.
Shipquay Books and News shut down in August 2013 after 23 years of trading at number 10, Shipquay Street.
Trading conditions in the area had been cited by the owner as the main factor in the decision.
The building has lain empty since the closure.
Plans have now been lodged to convert the ground floor of the building into a pizza restaurant and hot food takeaway, with the application currently under consideration by Derry City and Strabane District Council.
The new business will be known as the ‘Walled City Pizzeria’.
It marks the latest new development planned for Shipquay Street, after the opening of a new boutique hotel in recent months and a number of new cafes also now trading in the area.
However, it’s emerged that an objection has been lodged against the plans for the new pizzeria and takeaway.
The objection has been lodged by The Donegal Shop, which is situated next door at number 8, Shipquay Street.
The objection letter states that the main area of concern is the ‘takeaway element of the proposed new business, its potential adverse environmental effect and its influence on the established character of the street’.
The letter continues that in addition, no notification was received from planners as to what the proposed opening hours of the new business are.
The objector continues that it ‘welcomed’ the fact that planners would be visiting the proposed site of the new business in an effort to witness the issues of concern.
Planning documents also show that a noise impact report and an odour report have also been submitted by the applicant, with the application expected to come before a future meeting of the local council’s Planning Committee.
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