Harbour plans may be illegal, say locals

Greystones Development: Objectors to the proposed €300 million Greystones Harbour Development have claimed that proposals by Wicklow County Council to compulsorily acquire land to assign to a property developer to build 375 new homes could be illegal.

The claim was made on the first day of an oral hearing which opened in Bray. The hearing yesterday, attended by more than 200 local objectors, is focusing on plans by the council to rebuild the Victorian harbour, incorporating a 230-berth marina, a public park, and new facilities for rowing, sailing and angling clubs, as well as coastal erosion works.

The council has formed a public-private partnership with engineering company John Sisk and property developer Park Developments - known as the Sispar consortium - to carry out the work, expected to take four years.

In return for the public facilities, the council plans to transfer the foreshore and some 37 acres of property currently in private hands to Sispar which will develop 6,000sq m of retail units and 375 new homes which rise to four storeys over water level.

Paul Walsh SC, representing objectors Dick, Doreene and Lynn Bertram, said it was doubtful if the council's plans to compulsorily acquire land for building was constitutional or even legal.

John Fox, for the Greystones Protection and Development Association told the hearing that almost 6,000 of the town's estimated 8,000 to 9,000 adults had signed forms objecting to the development.

To applause from objectors, he maintained that these numbers proved there was no public need or desire for the development.

Mr Fox was supported by a number of speakers who expressed concern about the closure of rights of way and access to the cliff walk from Greystones to Bray. Rory Fallon, a harbour resident and member of the Greystones Protection and Development Association, suggested that transferring public property to a private property company did not demonstrate a public need, but a private one.

Evelyn Cawley told the hearing the council's description of the area as one of natural beauty which might be described as early Victorian was understated.

In a letter read out at the inquiry, another resident, Maureen Willis, said the coastline was "a hugely valuable part of our heritage" which she said should remain in public ownership.