70 jobs hang in the balance at Abwood

June 2008

SEVENTY jobs hover in the balance after six councillors vetoed a proposal to give two of the three main buildings at the controversial Abwood Homes factory planning permission.

Three of the four Greystones representatives opposed Monday’s move to allow company headed by George Smullen remain in business at Timore Lane in Newtownmountkennedy. The proposal to allow a ‘material contravention’ of the council’s development plan fell just one vote short of the necessary three-quarters majority as councillors split 17- 6 on the issue. The missing man was Cllr. Jim Ruttle who made no bones about the fact that he would have swung the issue by providing the required extra vote. The West Wicklow independent explained that he was detained at what he called a family event and he suffered delays at Dublin Airport that made him late for the meeting.

The motion offered to allow Smullen retain two of the three buildings on its site beside the N11. If passed, it would also have required them to demolish one large shed, provide a septic tank, landscape the site and improve back roads in the area.

This was a considerably better offer than was handed down in the High Court last year when Justice Peter Charleton gave him nine months to leave Timore Lane altogether as he ruled the factory had no planning permission.

Residents of the area, worried about noise levels and truck movements on Timore Lane, shared the public seating in the council chamber with workers from the factory as the elected members agonised over their decision. All the councillors were mindful of the possible effect on jobs, but several suggested that Abwood Home could relocate elsewhere.