Job fears grow at Abwood Homes

May 2008

FIFTY-TWO workers at Abwood Homes have been placed on protective notice and will lose their jobs if Wicklow County Council is success- ful in enforcing a court order to demolish the factory and offices at the site near Newtownmountkennedy.

A proposal allowing for the retention of two buildings failed by one vote at a council meeting last week, in controversial circumstances.

Six councillors voted against the proposal to allow the contravention of the County Development

Plan, leaving Abwood’s future hanging in the balance.

Abwood have lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala but have been informed that Wicklow County Council have already issued proceedings for enforcement, which will come to court on Tuesday July 1.

‘We had hoped that the council would not seek to enforce this court order until Bord Pleanala had an opportunity to rule on this application as the process allows,’ says Abwood spokesperson Breda Hamilton.

‘Especially in the light of their recommendation that planning be granted and the fact that the vast majority of councillors backed this proposal.

‘Also the manager confirmed that this site had been approved for development at meetings in 2001 and 2002 before it was purchased.’

As a result 52 staff have been placed on protective notice. If the county council are successful in enforcing the court order in July, then the factory and offices will have to be demolished.

An application was submitted to the council in August of 2002 and was being considered. In October of the same year further information was requested by the council and the dispute ended up in the High Court over whether or not this was issued too late. However, Justice Peter

Charleton ruled against them and gave them nine months to leave Timore Lane