‘We don’t need more vape shops’ – County councils have no power to limit number of e-cigarette stores
Louth County Council discussed the increasing number of vape shops and their current designation as general retail, highlighting a lack of power to regulate them.Summary
At a recent Louth County Council meeting, Cllr Ciaran Fisher raised concerns about the proliferation of vape shops, noting that existing businesses are being converted into these stores. He suggested exploring whether vape shops could be categorized separately from general retail under planning regulations and advocated for the council to request the power to zone them as a distinct entity. Director of Services Thomas McEvoy clarified that current legislation considers vape shops as general retail, preventing the council from differentiating between retail types. Any changes would require national planning regulation adjustments, though the council could offer technical advice if a formal motion is presented. Cllr Fisher emphasized the issue’s prevalence nationwide and proposed circulating any council correspondence to other local authorities.
(Source：Independent.ie)
