Coast Guard station plan stalls over rising costs

A new Coast Guard station for the east coast, to have been built as part of the €300 million Greystones Harbour redevelopment project in Co Wicklow, has been put on hold because of extra costs in making the building withstand "overtopping waves".

The location of the proposed station was agreed in plans drawn up by Wicklow County Council and its private sector partners Sisk and Park Development as far back as 2004 according to former council chairman Derek Mitchell.

However, the costs associated with the building have led to the Coast Guard shelving the plan pending additional funding. In a letter to the council the Irish Coast Guard said "it is deemed no longer viable to pursue the development at this site due to lack of funding in meeting the requirements".

Expensive doors

Mr Mitchell said the requirements of the building were that it withstand occasional waves “overtopping” the new harbour walls. He said he believed the doors on such a building cost in the region of €800,000.

Mr Mitchell, who signed the contract for the public-private harbour enterprise on behalf of the council, said he was extremely disappointed by the decision.

He said the council had given the Coast Guard “a valuable site specially constructed on the new pier and built a special slipway for them. It is incredible that after 12 years discussions, planning and building the harbour they pull out”.

Calmer site

He said the Coast Guard should look at putting its boat in a calmer area of the harbour, such as the marina, and build a simpler, less costly building.

“To my mind, getting the boat going is much easier and safer from the marina than slip launching from the outer basin which can be rough in easterly winds,” he said.

Sean Quirke, director of services with Wicklow County Council, confirmed the council had received a letter saying the site was not viable due to funding requirements. But he believed the issue was not closed and there was a good chance a solution would be forthcoming.

A spokesman for the Coast Guard said the site for the new station would be retained and, until funding was allocated, an “interim solution” would be found and the Coast Guard would have a presence in the harbour. The Coast Guard currently operates from a Victorian building beside Greystones Garda station, where some 20 staff and volunteers provide a service.