AN estimated attendance of about 800 gave a hostile reception at a public meeting last night to Wicklow County Council's plans to rezone land at Greystones Harbour.
While Assistant Wicklow County Manager, Mr Hubert Fitzpatrick, maintained the rezoning of the harbour and north beach area was necessary to facilitate "any marina", speakers claimed that there were "massive similarities" between the plan and the specific aspirations of one developer.
Wicklow County Council has been in negotiations for almost 10 years to establish a marina at Greystones. In the last number of years, these negotiations have cent red almost exclusively on a plan by the Isle of Man-based financier, Mr Albert Gubay, to build a 350-berth marina, a hotel and leisure centre, as well as a mixed development of 700 town houses and apartments.
Despite these negotiations, the council staff were at pains to point out that no formal planning application had yet been received from Mr Gubay. Mr Fitzpatrick said the issue at stake was to rezone the land to facilitate any marina and added that the meeting had not been called to debate Mr Gubay's proposals.
Mr Frank Turvey, a member of the Greystones for Marina Association, urged the meeting to support the rezoning. "The outline marina plan provides an attractive public promenade overlooking a 300-berth marina, a protected cliff walk and sustainable jobs, as well as securing the harbour and greatly increasing public access to the sea.
However, Mr Stanley Parkinson, of the Greystones Harbour Protection and Development Association, said what was at issue was not simply a marina but a huge housing development with the marina attached. "It was cobbled together to facilitate a developer," he insisted.
A local resident, Mr William Maguire, said the county council was in negotiations with Mr Gubay to sell him assets valued at £10 million for less than £1 million. He rejected the council's assertion that rezoning was inspired by anything less than Mr Gubay's aspirations.
An architect, Mr Brian Mento, also said there were massive similarities between Mr Gubay's plans and the proposed rezoning, while Mr Fiachra Etchingham said the real issue was whether the people of Greystones wanted 700 houses on the north beach.
Plans for the rezoning have been on display in Greystones Library since January. Objectors have until April 11th to make written submissions.
