A temporary shop in Creeslough has been granted conditional retention permission by Donegal County Council.
The Lafferty family who ran the local shop at the centre of the fatal explosion on October 7 opened the replacement modular store in the weeks following the tragedy.
The application to the council says that they are hopeful that a new shop to serve the community will be put in place within three years.
The application by Vivo/Shell Ltd also outlined that prior to the temporary shop being put in place the community was dependant on the goodwill of shops from outside the area voluntarily dropping essentials into the Creeslough Community Centre to be distributed to local residents.
This was not sustainable on a long-term basis and to bring some semblance of normality the temporary shop was put in place.
In the wake of the tragedy the Lafferty’s carried out an extensive search for a site or location for a temporary building. No other sites were identified that could accommodate the shop and associated parking spaces, other than the site which they are currently using.
The modular shop which is situated next to St Michael’s Church has been granted five year’s retention permission subject to ten conditions stipulated by the council.
These conditions outline that the premises must be reinstated within six months of the end of the retention.
In their application to the council the Lafferty’s outlined that that they would return the area to a “pristine condition”.
In the interest of residential amenity, no further signs or other means of advertisement shall be erected or posted on site without prior written agreement of the Planning Authority.
Another condition is that the loading bay shall be kept clear at all times and deliveries shall be restricted solely to this location.
Delivery vehicles will not be permitted to park along the national road or restrict access via the existing entrance.
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