The long wait is over as M11 service station to open within weeks
CIRCLE K CURRENTLY RECRUITING FOR STAFF WITH ‘LATE 2018’ OPENING DATE NOW CONFIRMED
THE M11 Service Station at Ballyellen that has been lying idle since 2015, and costing €20,000 per month for lighting and security, will finally open its doors to the public in the next few weeks.
Circle K, formerly Topaz, are currently recruiting for staff at their Gorey store, stating in the application they will open ‘in late 2018’. Even though a specific opening date has yet to be confirmed by Circle K, the news will be welcomed by many.
It was announced earlier this year that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has been spending €20,000 per month since 2015 to make the Gorey site secure while issues relating to the tender were being addressed.
Following a court battle last year, a contract was signed in July between (TII) and Topaz-Circle K with regard to the M11 service station, paving the way for the long delayed opening.
IT HAS been a long time coming but three years since building work was completed, the M11 Service Station at Ballyellen – which has been lying idle at a cost of €20,000 per month – will finally open for business within the next few weeks.
Circle K Ireland is currently recruiting staff for their Gorey store, stating in the job application they will open ‘in late 2018’.
A spokesperson from Circle K said a date is yet to be confirmed and ‘will confirm a specific date in the next couple of weeks’.
A contract was signed in July of this year between Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and Topaz-Circle K with regard to the M11 service station following a lengthy court battle last year.
Building work was finished on site in May 2015 and Topaz, now Circle K, submitted the preferred tender to run it. In August that year, the SuperStop 2 Consortium, involving Applegreen and Tedcastles Oil Products, launched a challenge in the Commercial Court to the awarding of the Gorey tender, and two others at Kilcullen, Co Kildare, and Moate, Co Westmeath which have yet to be built.
Under the reached agreement, Circle K will operate the facility at Ballyellen.
The news of its opening will be most welcomed in north Wexford following the announcement earlier this year that TII have been spending €20,000 per month since 2015 on making the Gorey site secure while issues relating to the tender were addressed.
Cllr Malcolm Byrne who has been working on the matter for almost 10 years said it is very welcome news and the end of a long saga.
‘Most importantly for motorists, it will be somewhere that they can pull in for a break while driving,’ said Cllr Byrne.
‘It should be remembered that from next Spring, for those travelling north from Wexford town on the M11, it will be the first service station, unless the driver pulls off the motorway and into one of the bypassed towns or villages.’