THE PAGE one lead story in last week’s edition of the Limerick Post headed ‘Planners told to get real’ sparked a response from both city and county traders, who felt aggrieved that they had, in recent times, received warning letters from the relevant local authorities under section 152(1) of the Planning and Development Act.
The Post revealed that one city businessman had been told to toe the line, or possibly face a a fine exceeding 12 million euro, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both, because of alleged unauthorised development.
The businessman had changed the letters over his shop front.
An east Limerick businessman contacted the Post to complain that he had received a similar warning because of a small sandwich board on the footpath outside his premises.
“I employ 40 people and pay all my taxes, rates and water charges. The little sandwich board helped to bring in a few more customers, and in these recessionary times we can all do with that little extra business”.
He claimed that he travelled to other small towns and villages and saw similar signage on footpaths, with no action taken.
And a city centre trader revealed that he was engaged in similar correspondence with city planners because of a canopy over his shop front.
One reader came to the defence of the city planners. “They are merely keeping to the letters of the law, as it stands”.
