Fears kiosk will ‘put people out of work’

The application for the multi-purpose kiosk was brought before Carrickfergus Borough Council for consultation on Monday evening.

It has already been granted approval by the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service.

Responding to queries from members, Planning Service officer Karen Doyle indicated the ‘pod’ was a prefabricated kiosk similar to those found at other retail outlets such as the Abbey Centre.

It could offer a range of services, such as dry cleaning, shoe repairs, key cutting and watch repairs.

The unit is to be located at the front of the Carrickfergus Tesco store on Minorca Place, with existing trolley bays to be reduced.

Its location is considered in planning terms to be within the town centre, Ms Doyle added.

However, the plans were met with criticism from Alderman Jim Brown, who claimed the kiosk would have a damaging effect on existing town centre businesses.

“These facilities are already available in the borough and my great fear is that this will be putting local people out of work,” he said.

Challenging the idea that the application was located in the town centre, Ald Brown added: “If you ask the man on the street where the town centre is, they are not going to say Minorca Place.”

Although no objections had been received on planning grounds, Ms Doyle indicated that one town centre retailer had submitted an objection relating to concerns over the impact on their business.

She added: “We can’t see this [application] as having any effect on the town centre; we don’t interfere between retailers and the department does not take sides.”

Meanwhile, an application for a proposed sports facility at Belfast High School was also brought before council on Monday. The plans, which include a 690 metre-square sports hall, drama and fitness suites with associated changing and amenities, were also granted approval by the Department of the Environment.