A Fianna Fáil Minister of State, Mr Dick Roche, has said he is "absolutely flabbergasted" about the circumstances in which 172 acres of farmland near Ashford were rezoned for commercial use.
Wicklow County Council voted last month to rezone the land after members were informed in a written submission on behalf of the owner that Ardmore Studios was to be relocated to the site at Ballyhenry, two miles from Ashford, if it was rezoned. Ardmore said this week that it knew nothing about the proposal, and has never had any intention of moving from its current site in Bray.
The submission was sent to all councillors by Mr Tim Rowe of RMG Architects, on behalf of the owner of the land, Mr Joe O'Connell. It said that the "studios at Ardmore are now not satisfactory and require relocation".
It said an approach had been made for Ardmore's relocation to Co Kildare and this would "happen in 18 months if action is not taken by County Wicklow".
Mr O'Connell told The Irish Times on Monday that the relocation claim was incorrect, but that the mistake had been made "inadvertently".
The rezoning of the 172 acres was proposed at a Wicklow County Council meeting last month by Fianna Fáil councillor, Mr Fachtna Whittle, and was supported by 15 councillors, including a majority in both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. The rezoning also received support from a number of Labour and Independent councillors.
Labour councillor, Mr Nicky Kelly, who voted for the rezoning said he still supported it fully. The relocation of Ardmore Studios was "never an issue" and his primary interest was in a "centre of sporting excellence" which was also proposed for the site.
Mr Whittle was on holidays and unavailable for comment yesterday.
His party colleague, Mr Roche, a former member of the council, said the rezoning was one of a number of "highly questionable rezonings" made at the last minute. It brought the entire planning process "into disrepute", the Minister said.
"This rezoning, while it was no doubt made in good faith, was based on exaggerated information. It must be rescinded immediately."
Green Party councillor, Ms Deirdre de Búrca, who abstained in the vote on the land's rezoning, said she would be proposing that the decision be reversed. She said she had concerns about a number of rezonings, including the Ballyhenry lands, made during the marathon 18-hour council meeting last month. These included the rezoning of a large field near Newcastle, beside a bird sanctuary, for a medical facility and the rezoning of a quarry at Ballylusk, Ashford.
"All of the recent rezoning motions relating to the draft [development plan] are currently out on public display until September 10th and will be put before the elected members of Wicklow County Council in October or November for final adoption," she said. "I would hope to have the support of the majority of my fellow councillors in reversing these decisions when we meet to agree the final adoption of the new county development plan," she said.
Her concerns about the meeting were echoed by Fine Gael councillors, Mr John Ryan and Mr Derek Mitchell, who described the meeting as "chaotic". Mr Ryan said that he had abstained from many of the rezoning votes because he did not have time to examine them.
Councillors were told the plan had to be completed under planning law by July 14th.
"Newly-elected councillors were given a little over two weeks from their first council meeting to vote on the draft development plan," Mr Ryan said.
He also warned that, because the meeting had exceeded the deadline by going into the early hours of the following morning, all the decisions could be open to legal challenge.
Fine Gael said yesterday it would now re-examine its position in light of the statement by Ardmore Studios categorically denying any suggestion of it relocating to the Ashford site.
Mr George Jones, the Fine Gael leader on the council, said the decision by five of the party's councillors to vote in favour of the rezoning was "based on a submission that Ardmore was going to relocate there".