A recent article criticising the proposed development of Greystones Harbour failed to present an unbiased view of the scheme, argues Eddie Sheehy
A lot has been written in this newspaper recently about the proposed development of Greystones Harbour by Wicklow County Council and Sispar. Much of this comment has been misleading and one-sided, culminating in an extraordinary article three weeks ago by Peter Murtagh, a managing editor of The Irish Times and Greystones resident who was given almost a full page to set out his personal views against the project.
Murtagh is, of course, entitled to his private opinion. What is unusual is that he was allowed to use a so-called "news feature" to present a completely prejudiced point of view without making any effort to quote either of the two companies which make up the Sispar consortium, Wicklow County Council, any of the local elected public representatives who support the development or any of the local sporting and marine based groups who welcome the proposed new facilities.
The images accompanying Murtagh's article were selectively chosen to show the acknowledged negative impact of the development on a very small number of existing houses.
The proposed development - which may begin this summer subject to planning approval - accords fully with the strategic objectives of Wicklow's County Development Plan which sets out the public amenities to be secured as well as the maximum area of development and heights. A variation to the plan relating to the Greystones Harbour area was adopted in November 2003 and underwent comprehensive public consultation.
In 2004 three firms of independent consultants examined an alternative proposal by a group of Greystones residents for a smaller development of the harbour and raised concerns about its sustainability, found it provided inadequate marine protection and that overall it was not financially viable.
Murtagh's language describing the council was abusive and insulting. The council does not have the resources to finance the development itself, nor is state funding available.
The Public Private Partnership (PPP) solution is an innovative and visionary way to confer major benefits on the community in Greystones and create badly needed new amenities for the use and enjoyment of all.
The design is by the award-winning firm O'Mahony Pike and was chosen after a detailed architectural assessment.
Murtagh was wrong when he said the development will comprise 375 apartments. In fact, it will be a mixture of 145 houses and 230 apartments.
The population in the area will be about 22,000 in 10 years' time, almost double that of 2002. The council is obliged to plan and provide for the future and existing population of the county.
I believe both groups will need and use the facilities that will include:
A new harbour in place of the existing ruined one which all agree gives significant concerns for safety
Essential coastal protection works to contain serious erosion north of the existing harbour
Improved access to the Greystones to Bray cliff walk
New facilities for local sporting clubs including the Greystones Sailing Club, Ridge Angling Club, rowing club, sea scouts and Wicklow Aquanauts
A new public beach area beside the marina
A new public park with car parking
a new public boardwalk and piers with seating
New retail facilities including
cafes and restaurants
A 230-berth marina
A new square at the harbour with substantial public parking
An attached condition is that Sispar will maintain and provide the services for the development for 30 years after completion - until the year 2041.
One of the most often disseminated pieces of mis-information by opponents of the development is that it will involve a new road across the southern side of Bray Head. There is no proposal for a new road, nor is one necessary for the project. Despite the fact that Wicklow County Council and Sispar have stated this on several occasions, it was ignored by Murtagh, who reheated the scare story in a lurid fashion, culminating in the conclusion to his article implying that it is still a possibility. It is not.
Murtagh's article also referred to an exposed, illegal dump in Greystones. No such dump exists.
Another scare story says that access to the cliff walk will be closed during the development - this is also untrue. The cliff walk will remain open at all times.
A constant refrain of opponents of the development is that it will be five storeys high and will dominate the skyline. This is not true. The maximum height for waterfront buildings around the harbour and marina is restricted to three storeys residential over one ground floor storey.
Elsewhere, maximum height is limited to two storeys, except for buildings overlooking the sea which are no more than three storeys. The proposed development is only 1.5 metres higher than existing houses.
A project of this scale cannot be completed without some local inconvenience caused by traffic and construction activity. There is disruption associated with all such work. However, the project's detractors have chosen to ignore the very detailed amelioration measures planned by the developers.
The Greystones Southern Access Road will be open and will considerably reduce local traffic. Before construction starts there will be improvements at the Beach Road/Victoria Road railway bridge to provide a safer pedestrian environment. There will also be special consultation arrangements with local schools.
To further reduce traffic, a temporary plant to manufacture concrete during the harbour construction works is planned. This plant will operate to local and international safety and environmental standards. Such plants are now common in urban areas and pose no danger to people and the environment around them.
Later this month An Bord Pleanála will hold an oral hearing about the development and I look forward to calm and balanced presentations from both points of view.
If Greystones is to thrive and meet the needs of its rapidly growing population it must have world-class facilities and development that enhance the town as a place to work and live.
I believe that this is what is now on offer and in five years' time Greystones will have a harbour facility that is the envy of the country.
Eddie Sheehy is Wickow County manager