Waterford Crystal plan to rezone pitches opposed

Waterford Crystal has run into opposition over proposals to seek the rezoning of 24.2 acres of sports grounds on the Cork road which will value it in excess of €30 million.

The company bought almost five acres of the land from Waterford City Council in 1997 for €32,000. Another five were bought in the early 1970s for €12,000.

Members of local sports clubs, including those attached to Waterford Institute of Technology, who use the playing fields alongside Waterford Crystal workers, are concerned at the rezoning and probable sale. They say they would have to look for new playing fields.

Monday is the deadline for public submissions on the proposed rezoning. Following that the issue will be voted on by the city council. A meeting of all union members at Waterford Crystal will be held in Waterford on Monday, at which the sale of the lands will be discussed.

Local businesswoman and town planner Stephanie Taheny has made representations to the city council against the rezoning.

Ms Taheny, who is also a board member of the institute of technology, a member of the Construction Industry Federation and of the council's strategic policy committee, claims the rezoning has not been "thought through".

She said there were already 600 acres in the city available for industrial use, but there was a shortage of sports facilities.

She said that the corporation sold five acres of land to Waterford Crystal in 1997 for about €32,000. This and an earlier sale of five acres in the 1970s for about €12,000 were based on the understanding that the land would be for recreational use, said Ms Taheny.

"What justification can the planning authority now have to squander this excellent recreational facility that they in effect subsidised when there is no need for this quantity [ of] general business zoning and [ there is] an abundance of alternative areas suitable for retail warehouses on the outskirts of the city," she said in her submission.

Waterford Crystal has been operating short-time working at its plants in Waterford and Dungarvan. The company announced recently that a brief recovery in sales in its key North American markets had not been sustained.

There was no comment from Waterford Crystal on the proposed rezoning and possible sale.