Bishop Con Lucey
Banned
MON, 11 JAN, 2021 - 17:30
SEAN O’RIORDAN
Cork County Council is to seek “urgent legal advice” in an effort to prevent it “losing” a proposed €100m Kildare Village-type retail outlet centre which would create 850 jobs at a site in East Cork.
Many councillors reacted angrily to news that Local Government and Planning Minister Peter Burke supported the view of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) that development of the retail outlet centre shouldn't proceed in Carrigtwohill.
During a lengthy debate, several councillors proposed getting legal advice on the issue and, ultimately, seeking a judicial review amid fears they would lose the project to another county. Many of them believe Limerick will snap it up if it gets a chance.
It was the first opportunity councillors had to discuss the ministerial view, which was only sent to the local authority two days before Christmas.
Rioja Estates, a British-based company, wants to develop the outlet, which it says would create a further 640 jobs during construction and attract around 220,000 shoppers annually.
Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty said that, last June, councillors voted overwhelmingly to support the Rioja Estates proposal.
“It's regrettable we find ourselves in this situation. We've very little option but to seek legal opinion and go down the road of a judicial review,” he said.
Independent councillor Alan Coleman agreed with him and said if Cork didn't get it, the centre would end up located in another county. “The senior politicians in our region should reflect on that,” he said.
SEAN O’RIORDAN
Cork County Council is to seek “urgent legal advice” in an effort to prevent it “losing” a proposed €100m Kildare Village-type retail outlet centre which would create 850 jobs at a site in East Cork.
Many councillors reacted angrily to news that Local Government and Planning Minister Peter Burke supported the view of the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) that development of the retail outlet centre shouldn't proceed in Carrigtwohill.
During a lengthy debate, several councillors proposed getting legal advice on the issue and, ultimately, seeking a judicial review amid fears they would lose the project to another county. Many of them believe Limerick will snap it up if it gets a chance.
It was the first opportunity councillors had to discuss the ministerial view, which was only sent to the local authority two days before Christmas.
Rioja Estates, a British-based company, wants to develop the outlet, which it says would create a further 640 jobs during construction and attract around 220,000 shoppers annually.
Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty said that, last June, councillors voted overwhelmingly to support the Rioja Estates proposal.
“It's regrettable we find ourselves in this situation. We've very little option but to seek legal opinion and go down the road of a judicial review,” he said.
Independent councillor Alan Coleman agreed with him and said if Cork didn't get it, the centre would end up located in another county. “The senior politicians in our region should reflect on that,” he said.
