Greystones venture to proceed

Wicklow County Council has voted to proceed with a public private partnership venture to build a 250-berth marina, shopping and residential development based around Greystones Harbour.

The controversial development, valued at about €160 million by consultants KPMG, is dependent on the residential element of 375 new homes in houses and apartments.

The proposals have split the local community, with the mayor of Greystones, Cllr George Jones, insisting that the vast majority of people in the town and the environs of the harbour are in favour of the plans.

Greystones Harbour has been the subject of a number of marina development proposals stretching back more than 20 years. The entrepreneur Mr Albert Gubay had firm proposals to build a marina, and restore the old harbour which dates from the late 1800s and is in need of considerable repair. Another company, Tracey Enterprises, which has built up a significant landholding around the harbour, has also expressed interest. However, Wicklow County Council has now moved ahead and developed its own proposals for the harbour - even though a private sector partner for the scheme has yet to be secured.

At a public meeting, locals opposed to the plans took issue with the levels of housing and the amount of traffic it will generate.

According to former Greystones town councillor Mr Fiachra Etchingham, a 1997 study by traffic consultants found that a development of this size should be served by a new entrance road from the Windgates area on the southern slopes of Bray Head.

There was considerable local opposition to the prospect of the road. It was argued it would effectively change the southern slopes' zoning to facilitate housing development.

Mr Etchingham said: "It is clear the marina can not be developed, generating 200 cars a day, and not create traffic chaos. There are currently tailbacks up the Windgates road of more than a mile. This development would result in a new road being built, there is no doubt about that."

Mr Etchingham also said the financial viability of the project was questionable.

Greystones town Cllr Evelyn Cawley also expressed concern with the figures, arguing that they implied "it will require more (housing) units to make it work.