Doubt over Avoca plans at Foxhunter
AVOCA Handweavers has moved to assure customers that it still intends to open in Lucan 
amid concerns that uncertainty now surrounds the plan, reports Lynda O’Donoghue Donnelly.
The new store, which is set to be located on the site of the former Foxhunter Pub, was due to open in March of this year but construction has been delayed.
This week questions about the future of Avoca in Lucan were raised by Fine Gael TD Derek Keating who claims that “difficulties” with investors have thrown the proposal into jeopardy.
Deputy Keating said: “Having achieved all the necessary planning permission the construction phase was expected to have led to Avoca being open by March 2015. The original plan was that the store would be open since March last and would create about 50 jobs.
“Unfortunately, there is now doubt over the whole proposal and I have committed to Avoca to keep in touch with them on behalf of the Lucan community including the local residents in Hermitage Park Estate, who expressed their concerns to me.”
However, Managing Director of Avoca, Simon Pratt, told The Echo that the company is still very much committed to bringing the store and restaurant to Lucan despite the current development hitting an unexpected snag.
He said: “It is absolutely our hope that we can still open at the Foxhunter but currently are hands are tied. It isn’t a financial issue but rather a legal/contractual one regarding these premises.”
Although some issues have arisen with the Foxhunter site if this proposal falls through Avoca does intend to set up elsewhere in the area after receiving an overwhelmingly positive welcome from residents when plans were announced in 2014.
Mr Pratt said: “If we can’t open there we will be looking hard for alternative sites in the area.”
Deputy Keating has now written to the company in relation to these difficulties and the
“lack of maintenance” on the former Foxhunter building itself.
He said: “I am also mindful of the potential impact of this site on our Tidy Towns prospects, particularly in view of the wonderful works carried out by, and successes achieved by Lucan Tidy Towns, most especially given the location of the site at the entrance to Lucan off the N4.”
