The operators of Dundrum Town Centre can proceed with plans to operate an ice-skating rink on a new site this Christmas after all.
In September, the Hammerson owned business secured planning permission from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to operate an ice-skating rink for the next three years across a 17-week period from October to January on a site to the rear of Holy Cross Catholic Church in close proximity to Dundrum Town Centre.
However, local resident, David Cooper lodged an appeal with An Bord Pléanála last month against the decision thereby ending any prospect of Dundrum Retail GP DAC operating the ice-rink at the new site this Christmas as a decision would not be made by An Bord Pléanála until sometime next year.
Mr Cooper has now withdrawn the appeal allowing the ice-skating rink to proceed for the coming Christmas season at the new site and a final grant of permission has now issued to the Dundrum Town Centre operator.
The council has attached a condition requiring that the ice-skating rink can operate from 9am to 9pm daily in the interests of protecting the amenity of adjoining properties.
Mr Cooper was the sole objector to the scheme and in his original objection lodged with the council, Mr Cooper said that he has lived on Main Street Dundrum since 2009. "I've had to endure the ice rink on the other side of my bedroom wall."
He told the council that he has two school going children "who can’t get to sleep at night because of the noise issues".
Mr Cooper said that a current grant of permission for an ice-run is in place for a site beside Sandyford Rd and asks "why can’t the ice-rink remain where it is?"
"If planning permission is granted, I intend to seek a judicial review because of the disrupting on to my family and the loss of car-parking spaces."
A submission made by Ray Ryan of BMA Planning on behalf of Dundrum Retail GP DAC states that the "operators will take every appropriate step to ensure that the ice rink is managed to ensure that there are no impacts on amenity of adjoining residential and commercial properties arising from the ice rink and the implementation of the noise management protocols will ensure that no such impacts".
