Bye bye Barcode-Westwood Clontarf…
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I was always wondering how the owners managed to get permission to develop on the shore side of the road… turns out they hadn’t permission after all 😮
Bit of a shame the Bram Stoker Dracula museum is to go as well – few enough multi-generational attractions added to this side of the city in recent years, and no sign yet of a reopened wax museum…
Bar Code may have to be torn down
By Lisa-Anne Crookes
Wednesday September 24 2008
A well-known Dublin nightclub may have to be torn down because its owners didn’t have permission to build it in the first place.The club and leisure centre owners have been ordered to pull down a large part of its premises after they were refused permission to retain sections of the building.
The owners of the centre on Clontarf Road, Dublin 3 may have to completely demolish extensive portions of the Westwood Leisure Centre after An Bord Pleanala refused planning permission for their retention.
complaints
The leisure centre had sought approval to retain sections of the premises, which includes a well known nightclub, Barcode. The club has been the subject of complaints by local residents who claim it is a source of constant noise and nuisance.
The appeals body agreed with Dublin City Council’s decision to grant permission for the retention of a number of elements of the complex including a health clinic, entrance lobby and storage. But it also agreed that the other elements of the complex would have to go, refusing retention for the extension that was built without planning approval.
It further stated that none of the elements remaining should be used at any time for the sale or consumption of alcohol.
Also set to go is a museum on site called the Dracula Experience. The site of the development is close to Marino Crescent, where Dracula author Bram Stoker was born.
Templeville Developments Ltd, owner of the Westwood Complex, also operates leisure centres in Leopardstown and Sandymount.
The nightclub at the Clontarf Road venue has been the subject of repeated and consistent complaints. Local residents have opposed Barcode’s licence and monthly special exemptions in the local district court.
– Lisa-Anne Crookes
http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/bar-code-may-have-to-be-torn-down-1481305.html
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No-one lives within earshot of the place. There is a large park one side of it, a Dart station and another park on the other side of it, and a small park and church grounds on the opposite side of the road to it.
That said, tear down Barcode. It’s a sleazy tip.
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Hi fergair,
I don’t think it’s so much about direct noise pollution but about other anti-social behaviours that coincide with an alcohol disco that caters primarily for a younger audience; this was in the herald a few days ago –
Barcode disco may close after locals protest
By Cormac Murphy
Saturday September 20 2008
A POPULAR Dublin disco looks sure to close after a ruling by the planning boardThe nightspot, Barcode in Westwood Leisure Centre, Fairview, was less popular with local residents, who had “untold problems” from the 1,000 revellers who would turn up.
It had been seeking permission from An Bord Pleanala to retain buildings on the site.
But the board refused the application, leaving the centre little option but to close the late-night venue. Westwood had been turned down by Dublin City Council before their unsuccessful appeal.
They have the option of taking a judicial review, but such cases rarely succeed.
While the application was before the council, a flood of objections were lodged with the local authority.
Estate agent Conor Gallagher of Douglas Newman Good said he protested in the strongest possible terms. “The area surrounding Barcode is zoned Z1 and Z2, which, as you know, are to enhance residential amenities — Barcode does the opposite,” Mr Gallagher said in his letter of objection.
“We have had untold problems with its patrons since it opened and up until now I had always assumed it had planning permission.
“We regularly have cars vandalised, bins turned upside down, beer bottles and cans thrown into our garden, damaging cars and property, our office windows have been smashed on several occasions and we regularly have to clean off graffiti,” Mr Gallagher said.
Another objector, Gerry O’Reilly, said the application “is totally contrary to the proper planning” for the areas surrounding the disco.
He wrote: “Barcode stands on ground zoned a Z9 amenity, which is farcical in the extreme as it is an unauthorised super pub catering for in excess of 1,000 people who are arriving at the venue from all over Dublin.”
– Cormac Murphy
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Too true, and I’ve been inside it. Horrible place packed to the rafters more often than not. I always got the impression that the place was a fire hazard, with the numbers they allowed in.
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@fergalr wrote:
Too true, and I’ve been inside it. Horrible place packed to the rafters more often than not. I always got the impression that the place was a fire hazard, with the numbers they allowed in.
Yeah I think you are right about that… still shame that the Dracula museum is going – but then again had the owner been granted retention even of this element, they may well have sought change of use up the way.
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Yes, it’s too bad about the “…Stoker Experience”. It was no museum, more of a ghost-train type thing, but it was fun.
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the place has been going for how many years? with problems with planning and alcohol licence since day one. ridiculous
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surely it would make sense for alcohol licences to be based on planning permission – afaik you have to have a fire cert every year to get an alcohol licence, so surely if the place was examined by the fire officer it would have had to have been compliant with planning laws re: capacity, exits etc. Therefore if they are appling for a licence and planning is only in on a retention basis the fire officer shouldn’t sign off on a cert (and thus have a licence) until planning permission is approved
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Dracula will not be happy……
Lock all doors and windows for he’ll be out to seek revenge!
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Dracula will not be happy……
Lock all doors and windows for he’ll be out to seek revenge!True. Who else is going to serve Tomato Juice with Vodka and Red Bull?
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Whatever about barcode, it is so Irish to see cars blocking the bus lanes on Clontarf road during the evening bus hour as the car park for the gym is full…
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