Greystones scheme best at all levels - council

Greystones Development: Wicklow County Council officials said yesterday plans for the development of Greystones harbour were based on a local area plan adopted by the elected members of the council and, as such, the officials had no option but to forge ahead with the scheme.

Outlining the council's position at the Bord Pleanála hearing, Dermot Flanagan SC, for the council, said the project was the result of the "democratic will" of the councillors, and was in full compliance with the County Development Plan.

Mr Flanagan said the plans for the harbour had taken into account local, regional and national policy, and the method being used to compulsorily acquire land from private owners was outlined in the Planning and Development Act 2000.

Commenting on the development, Seán Mason, of Arup Consulting Engineers, said it would be centrally located within walking distance of Greystones town centre and mainline and Dart train services. The marina and new homes would also be within walking distance of schools.

Mr Mason said traffic from the development would "be within the capacity of the existing road network", although construction traffic would be "considerable".

Major elements of the scheme had been designed to minimise the traffic during the construction period and improvements would be made to local roads.

In relation to the soils and geology of the site, Mr Mason acknowledged there was an unlicensed dump there which was closed in the mid-1980s. Photographs showed coastal erosion had exposed part of the dump, with rubbish clearly visible from the beach. The dump would be remediated with no residual environmental risk, he said.

Mr Mason said the coastal protection works would protect the coastline which had been crumbling for more than 100 years with the loss of houses and the realignment of the Wexford railway line at least twice.

He concluded the scheme was the most appropriate to meet the objectives of coastal protection and refurbishment of the harbour within the parameters of environmental and engineering best practice.

The hearing continues today.