The mixed-use development was to include an 80bed hotel, shopping mall, bar and restaurant, medical centre, child drop-in centre, 16 two-bed apartments and a multi-storey car park.

The decision to approve the development was appealed to the planning board by An Taisce, the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and a local businessmen. In its ruling the board stated that the development would "seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area."

"The hotel has been empty for two years now and it has turned into an eyesore, " says local Fine Gael councillor, Denis Dunne. "The building's only remarkable feature is the facade which the developers had intended to preserve. One of the few powers we have left to us as councillors is the authority to delist buildings and we're looking into that option.

"The main objection seemed to be that the development would be close to the Main Guard which is a national monument. But up in Dublin there's a new hotel gone up beside Kilmainham Gaol.

"During the eight years I've been on the council, traffic congestion has been a constant issue. We saw this as an ideal opportunity to solve the matter once and for all with an extensive car park right in the centre of town."