28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘We are very disappointed' – Dublin café appeals planning rejection
Goats Gruff, based in Dublin's Strawberry Beds and run by husband and wife Brian Kennedy and Ciara Cummins, said the refusal from Fingal County Council left them 'very disappointed'.
A petition has since been started to drum up support from members of the public.
'Our application for retention planning was rejected by Fingal County Council,' they said.
'However, we are working on our appeal to An Bord Pleanala and will address the small issues in the planner's report.
'Generally, the report was very positive, although there are some points that need to be clarified.
'A lot of people are asking if we are closing down, absolutely not. Trading as usual and we will get sorted one way or another.
'We have to say we were blown away by the support on the petition.
'A huge thanks to Mick Daly (Anatomic Fitness) for getting that going and to everyone who took the time to sign it and leave a comment.
'It was very emotional for us to read. We've all come a long way together over the last almost six years Goats Gruff is part of the community, and we won't let you down.'
According to the planning rejection, the café is in the Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order (SAAO) which is within a 'highly sensitive landscape'.
'The food truck by virtue of its use, nature and operation, materially contravenes the High Amenity zoning objective of the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029,' the planning document says.
'[It] is a form of inappropriate development which fails to preserve the natural beauty of the highly sensitive landscape and the special amenity value protected under the Liffey Valley Special Amenity Area Order.
'The retention development is therefore contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.'
