Council may cap the number of charity shops in Naas

Kildare Co Council may be moving to limit the number of charity shops in Naas, it has emerged. The Council said that retail character of a town can be adversely affected by 'lower order' retail uses such as charity shops discount shops. The local authorityl said it wants the Naas Local Area Plan to 'include a policy framework that supports an enhanced retail character in Naas town centre, with an emphasis on supporting higher order comparison retail and a rich mix of uses.' The issue had been raised by Cllr Sorcha O'Neill of Sinn Fein who asked if the Council would consider putting a cap on the number of charity shops in Naas town at its current level of 8. The Council admitted that a charity shop considered to be retail use like other shops under the Naas Town Development Plan 2011-2017 and the change from shop to charity shop does not constitute a material change of use under the Planning and Development Act.