Ground floor unit to be turned into a private members’ gaming club in Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

GAMING CLUB GETS GO-AHEAD IN CARRICKMACROSS

© Michael Fisher  Northern Standard  Friday 5th May

Permission has been granted by Monaghan County Council, with a number of conditions attached, for the operation of a private members’ gaming club off the Main Street in Carrickmacross. When the initial application was made in January to the planning department on behalf of Carrick Gold Mine Ltd, it was strongly criticised by all six Councillors in the Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District. Councillors have since written to the Minister for Justice asking her to close a loophole in the gaming legislation that permits such private clubs and to bring in regulations that would restrict such establishments.

Ground floor unit to be turned into a private members’ gaming club in Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

A number of local residents and businesses sent in objections to the Council in February on the basis that the town had never adopted by-laws allowing gaming. However it was discovered that there is a loophole in the legislation that permits private members’ clubs to organise card games such as poker.

The planners rejected the first application as incomplete and invalid. A new application was received by Monaghan County Council on April 13th. This time only one local resident made a representation (for which there is a charge of €20). The submission stated that Carrickmacross had never implemented the gaming by-laws.

In this person’s view, the town did not need any more gambling establishments as there was already an abundance on the Main Street. The objector also raised a question over the suitability of the entrance to accommodate a fire engine or emergency services vehicle.

Ground floor unit to be turned into a private members’ gaming club in Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

According to the plan submitted with the application, there would be a total of 24 video machines in the club with three poker tables. A cashier would be based in one corner of the room where there would be a tea or coffee making facility.

Carrick Gold Mine Ltd sought full planning permission for a change of use from an existing vacant ground floor commercial unit to a private members gaming club with external signage, and including all other associated site works. The premises is situated beside the car park at the rear of Carrickmacross Shopping Centre at Drummond Etra, Main Street.

The proposed Private Members Gaming Club would provide card games like Baccarat and other games like Texas Holdem etc “for groups of dedicated card players”. It would be the Club’s intention to have weekly Poker tournaments, some of which would be for local sports teams and associations, according to the application. The club’s facilities would be open to members only, who must be over eighteen.

Original site notice (January): Ground floor unit to be turned into a private members’ gaming club in Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

In a letter to the planning authority, consultants for the applicants outlined that the proposed opening hours would be from 10am to midnight, seven days a week. They said there would be no noise nuisance or other amplified sound from the club. The operators did not favour loud noises as this could affect the enjoyment of the card players. There would be no difference to the current ambient sound from the nearby street.

The applicants said that internal and external CCTV cameras would be installed to discourage anti-social behaviour in the area of the club. A downward facing light would illuminate the front of the building. There would be a single sign to the front of the building.

The conditions imposed by the planners require the applicants to pay a sum of €5825 towards car parking facilities beside the building and €199.50 towards community facilities. Other conditions relate to water and sewerage connections and to sound levels. Permission has been granted for the premises to open seven days a week between 10am and 1am the next day, an hour longer than the operating time submitted by the applicant.

The full details of the planning approval are as follows:

P15/107 – Carrick Gold Mine,  Rear of Shopping Centre, Drummond Etra, Carrickmacross.

1. Prior to commencement of development the developer shall pay to Monaghan County Council a sum of €199.50 in accordance with the General Development Contribution Scheme 2013-2019 made under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), towards expenditure incurred or proposed to be incurred by the Council in the provision of community, recreation and amenity public infrastructure and facilities, which will facilitate the proposed development. The Development Contribution Scheme shall be updated by the Planning Authority on an annual basis, in accordance with the Wholesale Price Index for Building and Construction (Materials and Wages). The sum attached to this condition shall be revised from the date of the grant of planning permission to the value pertaining at the time of payment in accordance with the annual update and the amount of contribution attached therein.
2. Prior to commencement of development the developer shall pay to Monaghan County Council a sum of €5825.00 in accordance with the General Development Contribution Scheme 2013-2019 made under Section 48 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), towards expenditure incurred or proposed to be incurred by the Council in the provision of car parking facilities which will facilitate the proposed development. The Development Contribution Scheme shall be updated by the Planning Authority on an annual basis, in accordance with the Wholesale Price Index for Building and Construction (Materials and Wages). The sum attached to this condition shall be revised from the date of the grant of planning permission to the value pertaining at the time of payment in accordance with the annual update and the amount of contribution attached therein.
3. a. Domestic  effluent  from toilets and  wash  hand  basins to  be  discharged  to the  public  foul  sewer  via existing  public  foul  sewer  collection  system  serving  this  premises  in  an  approved  manner  to water  services  specification.                                                                               b. The foul  sewer  connections  from any  new  facilities  shall be  connected  to  the  existing   foul  sewer collection  system , serving  this  premises.   All  new  manhole  and  connections  to  existing  manholes  to  be   constructed  watertight  with  benching  to  direct  discharge  into  flow  path  of  existing  sewer pipeline , all  to  the  approval  of  the  water  services  representative.                                                                                           c. Storm run off  only, to  be connected to   existing  storm sewer collection system   serving  this  development  and  discharged  to  existing  watercourse/storm  sewer  in an approved  manner.             d. You shall  be  required  to  pay  for  water  usage  by  this  premises  as  per  approved  rates  as  may  be  determined  by   Irish  Water ,  and  to  any  future  revisions  of  said  water  rates.  Applicant  shall  grant  Irish  Water and  their  agents  with  right  of  access ,  at  all  times,  to  all  water  pipelines , valves  and  meters.                                                         e. You shall  be  required  to  pay  for  discharge  of  effluent  by  this  premises  to  the  public  sewer  as  per  approved  rates  as  may  be  determined  by   Irish Water  ,  and  to  any  future  revisions  of  said   rates.  Applicant  shall  grant  Irish  Water  and  their  agents  with  right  of  access ,  at  all  times ,  to  trunk  public  foul  sewers  which  traverse this  site  and   all  associated  manholes  and  sewer  pipelines. 
4. Prior to commencement of development, applicant to contact Irish Water regarding the provision of water services necessary to enable the proposed development and to confirm acceptability of the proposed development with regard to source/network infrastructure.
5. The hours of operation of the business hereby permitted shall be from 10.00am to 01.00am daily (Monday to Sunday). The business shall be operated so as not to cause a noise nuisance in the vicinity.
6. No additional advertising signs, flags, symbols, emblems, logos or other advertising devices other than signs indicated on lodged plans, to be erected externally on the building or anywhere on the site without prior grant of permission from the Planning Authority.
7. The noise level from within the boundaries of the development not to exceed 55dB(A) equivalent continuous level (leq) at any point along the boundaries of the development between 8.00am – 8.00pm, at all other times, the noise level not to exceed 45Db(A) equivalent continuous level (leq). Where noise is impulsive in nature or has clearly audible tone components, the levels to be reduced by 5dB(A).
8. Lighting shall be provided to the elevation of the building in accordance with the details submitted on the 13/04/15.
9. Subject to the above the proposed development to be carried out in strict conformity with the plans and specifications submitted to the planning authority on 13/04/15.

THE REASONS FOR THE IMPOSITION OF THE ABOVE CONDITIONS ARE:

1. It is considered appropriate that the developer should contribute towards the expenditure incurred or proposed to be incurred by the Council in the provision of community, recreation and amenity infrastructure and facilities, which will facilitate the proposed development.
2. It is considered appropriate that the developer should contribute towards the expenditure incurred or proposed to be incurred by the Council in the provision of community, recreation and amenity infrastructure and facilities, which will facilitate the proposed development.
3. To ensure a satisfactory standard of development.
4. In the interest of sanitary services and orderly development.
5. In order to prevent unauthorised development.
6. In the interest of visual amenity.
7. In the interest of amenity and orderly development.
8. In the interest of a satisfactory standard of development.
9. In order to prevent unauthorised development.