Press Release issued by Little Island Business Association
Little Island Business Association and Little Island Community Association have joined forces in their opposition to a planning application for a waste transfer and recycling facility in their area. The planning application by Country Clean is currently before Cork County Council.
Michael Mulcahy CEO of Little Island Business Association said: “Little Island is the largest business district in Cork with a vibrant and developing residential community and an outstanding employment centre that sees up to 17,950 employees and visitors each day in the area. It has worked hard to progress itself from some appalling planning decisions of the past and has enormous future residential development potential with up to 325 housing units currently in various stages of planning. Locating a waste transfer and recycling facility in the area would be contrary to future growth options for the area and a blight on the residential, business, retail, tourism, leisure and environmental opportunities that are still being developed in the area. The proposed site for this facility at Courtstown Industrial Estate is not only unsuitable but impractical for such a development.
“Regardless of any past plans for that site a decade ago, time has moved on, Little Island has moved on and the residents and business community will no longer accept development of any kind that is not consistent with our vision for our area. The residents and the business community are the key stakeholders in this area with Cork County Council as the local authority with responsibility for the area and we expect that our views about the future strategy for our area will be not only listened to but adhered to. Gone are the days when a local authority will impose development against the will of the key stakeholders in an area and that is the joint position of the residents and business community of Little Island at this time. The business community of Little Island contribute in excess of €8 million per annum in commercial rates and levies to Cork County Council and our agreement with Cork County Council in seeking for Little Island to remain in Cork County was based on acceptable levels of inclusion and involvement in all future decisions relating to the development of Little Island. We are also deeply unhappy with the appalling level of public consultation and past methods adopted by Country Clean with the local residential and business community.”
Michael Mulcahy continued: “The Little Island Traffic and Transportation Study is still at draft stage and as there is now issues over the accuracy of employment figures in this study and until this has been completed to an acceptable model, any new planning applications that would see large volumes of trucks using Little Island as an access route should be deferred.”
Little Island Community Association and Little Island Business Association are holding a public meeting on Monday December 3 at 7pm in Little Island Community Centre and are inviting everyone interested in the future of Little Island to attend.
Michael Mulcahy is available for comment at 087 776 8580.
Little Island Business Association
2413 Euro Business Park, Little Island, Cork
liba.ie
021 500 3050
