Developments in Cork

Irish Examiner 03 April 2007

Fears as bio-tech giant delays €800m factory project

By Eoin English
US BIOTECHNOLOGY giant Amgen last night announced a two-year delay in the development of its €800 million manufacturing plant in Cork, raising concerns about the project’s future.

The company said the decision to reschedule the opening of the plant, with a promise of 1,100 jobs, was taken after a global review of its operations. The first phase of the plant in East Cork — bulk manufacturing capacity-building — was due to open by 2010 but will not open until 2012 at the earliest.
The development of the second phase of the plant — the formulation and milling facility — has also been delayed.

The hiring of staff will also be stalled.

A company spokesperson said Amgen remained committed to the project “in “terms of overall investment, plant capacity and overall job numbers”.

She said the initial schedule announced last year was aggressive. However, the total employment figure of 1,100 would be reached, she added.

Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin was due to turn the sod on the site at a ceremony on Thursday week, but this has been cancelled.

Mr Martin was briefed on the delay by senior company management yesterday.

“It was a productive meeting during which they outlined the new schedule,” he said. “It is important to note that Amgen remains very positive about Cork and firmly committed to their investment in East Cork.

“The engineering, design and ground work continues.”

Site work started on the massive plant last November. Amgen has already hired up to 130 people.

Some will continue to work on the Carrigtwohill project but others will be Local Labour councillor, John Mulvihill, described the delay as worrying.

“I am very concerned about this being the thin end of the wedge,” he said.

“There have been a lot of job losses in East Cork in recent years. We all thought Amgen would solve a lot of our unemployment problems. But this news is a major blow to the East Cork region.” re-deployed.

The Amgen investment was last year hailed as the biggest investment in Cork in 20 years.

Three appeals against the project have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.

A ruling is expected in mid- July

Those living in apartments complain about inadequate storage space, insulation and the size of their kitchens. They also worry about security, and don’t like the views from their concrete boxes.

All but the last of these are symptoms of bad apartment design, rather than apartments being problematic in pricipal.

Her overall thesis is a bit spurious. The same could have been said about inner city terraced housing as the first semi-detached suburbs were in place. Not many of them are lying vacant at the moment.

article in the examiner today http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=29619-qqqx=1.asp

we really we need a few strong politicans in Cork

I would agree with you regarding the docklands that they should got there own house in order first before they can go blaming someone else, but don’t you think central government should have been involved from day one like it was in Dublin…….the will didn’t seem to be there, half of it might have been because of who they would have had to deal with!

Doesn’t take away from the fact that cork politicans are very weak

@Leesider wrote:

I would agree with you regarding the docklands that they should got there own house in order first before they can go blaming someone else, but don’t you think central government should have been involved from day one like it was in Dublin…….the will didn’t seem to be there, half of it might have been because of who they would have had to deal with!

Doesn’t take away from the fact that cork politicans are very weak

I agree completely with you Leesider, Cork politicans should hang their heads in shame (and get a tough time over the next few weeks on the doorsteps)
I am reposting my comment of 30th Jan for your information.

CORK CITY COUNCIL

Re: Huguenot Graveyard, Carey’s Lane
Part 8 (Article 81) Local Government Planning & Development
Regulations 2001

BACKGROUND
The Huguenot Cemetery on Carey’s Lane dates back to the 1700’s – at a period when many Huguenots left France due to religious persecution and settled in various countries including Ireland and in Cork, established a Huguenot Quarter in the Carey’s Lane/French Church Street area.

Off Carey’s Lane there exists a small cemetery measuring no more that 10m X 10m, but of significant historical interest, it being one of only two such cemeteries in Ireland.
This cemetery has for years been neglected, overgrown and invisible to the public because of a continuous 3 metre high wall along its frontage. To the passer-by, it has all the appearance of a derelict site.

In recent months, the City Council purchased the site with a view to restoring the cemetery to a state in keeping with its former use while at the same time, opening it sufficiently to allow the citizens and passer-bys experience a little of the history.

PLANNING
A Scheme for the proposed restoration of the site was prepared by the City Council.
A Notice under Part 8 (Article 81) Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations 2001 was published in the Public Press on 16th February 2007. At the expiry of the Notice on 30th March 2007, submissions were received from:-

Planning Department (City Council)
Huguenots (Dr. Alicia St. Leger)
Building Control (City Council)
Friends of the Huguenot Cemetery Cork
Parks Section, Recreation, Amenity & Culture

THE PROPOSAL
The City Council’s proposal is, to clear the site, deal with any services in the site, insert appropriate paving and pebble stones, restore existing headstones, treat and restore existing internal walls, insert information plaques and in general upgrade what is currently total dereliction, into an appropriate memorial garden to commemorate the historical significance of the site and to awaken an interest in what is by and large and unknown era in the history of Cork.

The proposal involves breaking through the existing wall to allow for a 3 metre wide double gate in wrought iron to allow the public to view the garden, and to allow maintenance access.

SUBMISSIONS
The submission from the Planning Department supports broadly the principle of the proposal, and indeed makes suggestions which are helpful and will be taken on board.

There is however contention about retaining the masonry wall fronting Carey’s Lane and only have the existing small wicker gate as access. This course of action defeats the purpose of the exercise which is to open up this historic section.

This wall is old, has a very significant vertical crack at the northern end, has a very significant horizontal crack at the southern end, stonework which is non-uniform, uneven rendering on parts of it, a rotting timber lintel over the ope, collapsed stone work over the lintel and has modem brick make-up in a disturbed parts of the reveal.
The wall in not plumb.

Furthermore a section of the wall (i.e. 2.4 metres) will be demolished by agreement with adjoining owners on foot of a recent Planning Permission.

This will render the wall unstable in the very narrow Carey’s Lane. In order to overcome this and if a section of the wall has to be taken down and entirely rebuilt, there is a recommendation from the Conservation Officers which will be taken on board.
The submission from the Huguenots (Ms. St. Leger) has a number of recommendations which can be accommodated, many of which are included in the Planning submission.

This submission favours the double gate opening as proposed and does not have an issue with the existing wall.

The submissions from Friends of the Huguenots and the Parks Section support the proposal.

It is proposed to proceed with the development.

JOE GAVIN
CITY MANAGER
5th April, 2007

@THE_Chris wrote:

At least they’re preserving it somewhat rather than putting apartments on top of the graveyard.

The Tower of London, the Acropolis in Athens, the Amphitheatre in Rome.
…”this wall is old”, “has a very significant vertical crack at the northern end”, “the wall is not plumb” (City Manager)
…so let’s demolish it??
People have been shot, and hung for less.

“victory for residents”?

Idiots.

Kite – any chance you could post text of that article since reading of same requires membership