Prominent Catholic priest, Fr Harry Bohan has expressed fears for local retailers in a small Co Clare town in response to plans by German discount giant, Lidl to construct a new store there. The application by Lidl for Sixmilebridge is facing local opposition and Fr Bohan has told Clare Co Council in a submission that Sixmilebridge “is changing fast, probably too fast. Our local, human, social values are threatened”.

He said: “We need our local shops and businesses to survive, always did. When they are threatened we need our community to be aware of that threat.” Fr Bohan asked: “Are The Bridge people well enough serviced by discount stores in the surrounding area?”

Concerns for Local Businesses

Local retailer, Flora Crowe today welcomed the intervention of Fr Bohan in the planning row. Ms Crowe said: “Fr Harry is a visionary and has always been a huge supporter of community and supporter of all businesses in Sixmilebridge. If he believes in that then we need to take stock of what he says.” Ms Crowe operates two retail outlets locally, employing 50 people and the enterprise is this year celebrating 40 years in business.

Ms Crowe said: “Lidl may not come in overnight and close us down but they will slowly edge away and they will take from our business. If a Lidl came into Sixmilebridge it would change the very fabric of Sixmilebridge and rural Ireland. I know consumers need choice but we have to protect the fabric of rural society.”

Ms Crowe said that a young man recently took over a local butchers “and we have to protect him and we have to protect the village”. In her formal objection against the proposal, Ms Crowe has told the council that “I believe the proposed Lidl store would seriously undermine the economic viability and social fabric of Sixmilebridge”.

Lidl's Perspective

In a planning report lodged by consultants for Lidl, Tony Bamford Planning, it states that Lidl Ireland GmbH is proposing the development “of a relatively small supermarket with a gross floor area of 2,290 sqm and a net sales area of 1,499 sqm”. Mr Bamford states that “in smaller supermarkets like this one, the sales area is primarily focused on convenience sales, accounting for approximately 80 per cent of the sales area”.

Mr Bamford points out that the application site is currently vacant agricultural land zoned for Mixed Use. Mr Bamford said: “The development will not have a material, adverse, impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre of Sixmilebridge. The proposed development accords with the prevailing retail objectives for the town and that must take precedence over diversion of trade from competing retail.”

Mr Bamford states that “overall, the application site is the optimal location for the proposed supermarket, given its proximity to the town centre, meeting the criteria for suitability, availability, and viability, and adhering to the guidelines and requirements for retail development”. He said: “A dominant focus of retail policy in the County Development Plan is to see the growth of main food shopping retail in the smaller towns like Sixmilebridge.”

The Future of Sixmilebridge

The Council is due to make a decision on the application this week. The debate over the proposed Lidl store in Sixmilebridge highlights the complex issues surrounding the development of small towns and the impact of large retailers on local businesses and communities. The concerns raised by Fr Bohan and Ms Crowe reflect the desire to preserve the character and economic vitality of Sixmilebridge, while Lidl argues that its proposed store will contribute to the town's retail landscape. The outcome of the planning application will have significant implications for the future of Sixmilebridge and its residents.

The controversy also raises broader questions about the role of large retailers in rural areas and the balance between economic development and community preservation. As the Council deliberates on the application, the residents of Sixmilebridge and beyond will be closely watching to see how this debate unfolds. The outcome could have implications for other rural communities facing similar challenges.