Council Challenge Shopping Centre Construction

It has been revealed that city and county councillors will meet to talk about the controversial shopping centre being built in Limerick.

This follows a Northern Irish property developer taking on the job of finishing the half built Park Valley Centre. There are fears that the centre will be the final nail in the coffin of an already 'dying' town.

With an application for retention of the development currently before Limerick County Council Mayor Jim Long is to bring county councillors, city councillors, and various officials from the two authorities around the table to discuss the plan.

Meanwhile Mayor Long believes the developer behind the project, Suneil Sharma is treating him as a "buck-ape" for only agreeing to a meeting with him late next month - by which time, planning permission could be in place.

Fears over the project have been expressed by Limerick Business Association and one entrepreneur Helen O’Donnell has said if it goes ahead, it will be “devastating” for the city.

The Mayor has now issued a rallying cry to businesses in the city, asking them all to stand behind him against the multi-million euro scheme.

The planning decision is due on October 6.

According to the Irish Times, Suneil Sharma agreed to take over building the Parkway Valley centre off the Dublin Road after acquiring an adjacent retail park for €30m.

Construction started four years ago on the €150 million Parkway Valley site but was halted when Liam Carroll’s Zoe Group collapsed three years ago.

The newspaper reported that the project would cost between €50 million and €60 million to complete but that Mr Sharma would not be drawn on how much he is investing in the project.

Movement had been expected on the site after planning permission was extended in late August.

The original plans were for a 92 unit development, which was to include an Olympic sized ice-rink, a 10-screen cinema and up to 40 retail units. Tesco Extra and Penney’s were advertised to occupy these slots in the development.

Mr Carroll halted development on the site in 2008 after failing to secure anchor tenants.

(LB/GK)