Monaghan County Council says the low vacancy rate in the Monaghan Town Retail Park is a cause for concern "which must be addressed",
The out-of-town retail park on the Clones Road came up for discussion during this month's meeting of Monaghan County Council as amendments to the county's development plan were debated by councillors.
Sinn Féin Councillor Seán Conlon proposed an amendment to the plan to allow more units at the Monaghan Retail Park, however, the county's most senior planner advised members that national guidelines dictate that "milk and cornflakes, jumpers and t-shirts" should be sold in town.
Fine Gael's Sean Gilliland questioned if the plans would pass national regulations even if councillors passed it in Monaghan but, Fianna Fail's PJ O'Hanlon said while Monaghan Retail Park is out of town now, "where will it be in a few years' time"? In the end, councillors voted in Cllr Conlon's proposal by 10 votes to six with Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil supporting the motion to and Fine Gael and Cllr Seamus Treanor opposed.
Sinn Féin councillor Seán Conlon told Northern Sound why he and his party voted to allow more retail space out of town: Independent Councillor Seamus Treanor also gave his reasons for opposing the proposal.
