Roche critical of Roadstone lobbying

Lobbying by Roadstone, a Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) subsidiary, to have its land-holding at Glen Ding in west Wicklow rezoned…

Lobbying by Roadstone, a Cement Roadstone Holdings (CRH) subsidiary, to have its land-holding at Glen Ding in west Wicklow rezoned, has been criticised by the Minister of State for Europe, Mr Dick Roche.

Mr Roche, who is a Fianna Fáil TD for Wicklow, said the company had insisted that a rezoning of its land for "extractive industries" was being done wholly at the initiative of Wicklow County Council.

However, Mr Roche claimed that the evening before a crucial vote on the issue at Wicklow County Council, Roadstone sent documents out to councillors' homes by courier calling for support for the plan.

Roadstone has confirmed sending out the documents.

READ MORE

"As I understand it, the Roadstone case for rezoning was couriered out to individual councillors, which seems a bit strange when the company was making a virtue out of not advocating the change," said Mr Roche.

Roadstone has extensive land holdings around the town of Blessington, including 147 acres of Glen Ding.

The area is rich in sand and gravel deposits but is also archaeologically significant, containing a number of recorded national monuments.

In the ensuing vote on the adoption of the Blessington plan, the council was divided and deferred the issue of rezoning to an unspecified date.

Meanwhile, Labour councillor Mr Tommy Cullen has said he will continue to oppose the Glen Ding rezoning.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist