Cllr Colm Arthur has become the first local politician to support the plans for the new €12million meat processing plant in Kilbeggan.
He made his stance at this week’s meeting of the Kilbeggan area committee at which he became its chairman for the first time.
“The county manager has recommended a material contravention to the local area plan, and I will be supporting this action,” said Cllr Arthur.
Last August, the Tyrone-based firm Dunbia applied to the county council to more than double (5,135 sq m to 12,281 sq m ) the size of its existing meat processing plant on the Clara Road, but ran into such a sizeable opposition to its plan from both its rival meat-packing firm Kepak and local residents, that over 500 submissions were lodged with the council in relation to the application.
Dunbia faced another hurdle in its application in that its proposals went against the aspirations and zoning of the Kilbeggan local area plan. however this was overcome last Wednesday (July 13 ) when county manager Danny McLoughlin issued a report in support of this “material contravention”.
This must now go to the county council for a vote on Wednesday, July 27 which, coincidentally, is the date when a decision is due from the planning department on Dunbia’s application.
“[Assuming this] It will still be subject to an EPA licence...but if it passes all elements of planning, I’ll support it,” said Cllr Arthur.
“I’m glad we have extra inward investment and jobs will be created,” he said. At the moment, 25 new jobs are guaranteed, pending permission, but it is believed it could be as many as 70.
“I would expect with the people we have in the Planning Department, it [the potential development] would lead to minimal disruption,” said the councillor.
Cllr Arthur believes the project is fast approaching critical mass as, along with the manager’s recommendation, he was able show the Advertiser a letter from the residents’ association nearest the planned factory extension in which they formally withdrew their opposition to the project.
“Up to now our objection opposing Dunbia’s application has been based on misleading information of the facts.We have considered all facts, and on truer reflection ... reached a unanimous decision and voted in support of the Dunbia application,” said the letter from the residents’ association of Brosna Park.
However, because of the level of opposition still remaining, it could yet be another two years before the first of the new jobs come on stream. An objection to An Bord Pleanala is expected if the council votes to accept the manager’s recommendation on Wednesday.
To date, only Cllr Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran from Athlone has publicly opposed the county manager’s recommendation.
