Locals to fill majority of first phase of China hub jobs
by Karen Downey Updated: Wednesday, 19th October, 2011 5:00pm
Decision now due in weeks after developers submit further information details
The developers behind the Europe China Trading Hub (ECTH) planned for the Creggan area have said the majority of the estimated 1,500 jobs to be created in the first phase are to be filled by local people.
The developers, Athlone Business Park Ltd, informed Westmeath County Council last week in a further information submission that the first phase of the development was not likely to impact on the provision of community services in the area and "the majority of the c.1,500 jobs anticipated in Phase 1 will be filled by persons living in Athlone and its environs".
The council had raised concerns about the level of community services provision and the impact on local schools.
The developers pointed out that there are a number of community facilities in the Athlone area, including primary and secondary schools, childcare facilities, AIT, retail facilities, sport facilities, the Dean Crowe Theatre, bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels with conference facilities.
The document submitted to the council last week stated that it was anticipated that the jobs created by the first phase of the project would lead to inward migration, from elsewhere in Ireland, to Athlone.
It stated that a recent survey carried out on behalf of the project backers had found that there are approximately 300 unoccupied completed new homes within the environs of Athlone and it is expected the development would have a positive impact on housing demand.
Pointing out that demand for community and educational facilities primarily arises from residential development, the document states:
"The provision of jobs does not in itself generate great demand for community services."
The document stated that the majority of jobs would be filled by local people, but added: "Further accommodation can be best provided for on lands already zoned for residential development and for which particular Local Area Plans have been adopted, such as those at Cornamagh, Cornamaddy and Lissywollen."
The developers pointed out that through the implementation of these plans, it is envisaged that community services will be developed in conjunction with new residential developments, as required by the plans.
"Part of the substantial development contributions that ECTH will generate will go towards the provision of such services at the appropriate locations for new residents, in accordance with the adopted Development Levy Scheme," the document states.
The document also points out that the network of Local Area Plans have identified the requirements for new educational and community facilities to be provided in tandem with residential development and that the plans provide for the expansion of existing schools at Clonbonny, Coosan and Cornamaddy.
New school facilities can be accommodated within the Lissywollen, Cornamaddy and Creggan lands as need arises.
In relation to primary schools, the document states that there are nine primary schools on the east side of Athlone and the enrolment at these schools has risen modestly from 2001 when the figure stood at 1,565 to 2010 when the enrolment figure was 1,643.
Enrolment at Clonbonny NS has increased dramatically in that time period, from 68 in 2001 to 123 in 2010 and the document states that the Masterplan has provided for the expansion of this school.
The promoters of the project have also been in discussion with officials in the Department of Education and have been informed that the schools construction programme can be adjusted to meet requirements in the event that the project proceeds and new demand is generated.
In relation to secondary schools the document states that there is capacity to accommodate over 200 additional students and provides enrolment figures at each of the schools from 2001 to 2010.
Aside from impact on community services one of the major issues raised by council, on a number of occasions, was the potential impacts of the first phase of the development on Crosswood Bog (SAC), the River Shannon Callows (SAC) or the Middle Shannon (SPA). The council felt there could be hydrological impacts on the three sites arising from construction activities, including dewatering of the site.
The document stated that the project would not impact on the flow of the River Shannon.
The detailed document submitted to the council stated: "Dewatering of the site is of such a small scale that it will have no impact on the flow of the Shannon or the conditions in the River Shannon Callows SAC or the Middle Shannon SPA. Any water that is taken from the site is discharged back to the Shannon.
Crosswood Bog, like all raised bogs, is perched on an impervious layer of marl and is dependent solely on rainfall. Even if a temporary effect occurs to groundwater in its vicinity, which is most unlikely, it will not have an effect on the bog surface communities."
Other issues raised by council planners included 'shadow flicker' from the proposed wind turbine and the developers provided detailed analysis of projected 'shadow flicker' onto nearby properties and stated that under the worst-case scenario there were a number of buildings, both on and off-site, that would be subject to between 30 and 99 hours of shadow flicker per year.
The worst-case scenario would require continuous sunshine with no cloud cover, the rotor plane always being perpendicular to the sun and sufficient wind for the rotor blades to always be turning. The developers have proposed a number of mitigation measures and say if these are implemented in full "there will be no negative residual impacts on the receiving environment from the proposed wind turbine in terms of shadow flicker".
The document also states that there will be floor space available to showcase Irish products to foreign buyers who visit the international trading hub.
Once Westmeath County Council has validated the further information submission, it will be available at council offices and on the council's website and the council must then make a decision within four weeks.
