While the Ferrybank Centre in south Kilkenny remains idle, less than a kilometre away Waterford City Council sits, contemplating whether or not to grant planning permission to a massive new factory outlet centre, with links to Bertie Ahern and Anglo Irish Bank.
The proposed new outlet centre is to be built five kilometres from the vacant Ferrybank centre, which was developed at a cost of millions and has become an empty monument to the Celtic Tiger.
Although initial planning permission for the outlet centre was denied as there was no environmental impact study provided, Bance Nolan, who also handle the public relations for Waterford City Council, announced that: "The promoters of a major factory outlet centre in Waterford that will create 300 jobs during the construction phase and more than 200 retail and supervisory positions when it is operational have confirmed today (Sept 8) that they intend lodging a full planning application for the project with Waterford City Council within the next eight weeks."
The promoters of the proposed new centre, Junction One Investments Ltd, are hoping to develop the centre on a site owned by Parker Green International.
Fine Gael Senator John Paul Phelan said that Waterford was in danger of building a white elephant across the river from an existing white elephant.
Senator Phelan said: "While nobody wants to turn down 300 badly-needed construction jobs and a further 200 retail positions, the stark commercial reality of the prevailing economic climate is that this proposed project would be yet another white elephant in a region that can ill afford to be developing such hubs.
"The Ferrybank Shopping Centre on the opposite side of the river already remains idle and the footfall in another, recently developed hub on the Cork road remains disappointing. We shouldn't be building these large outlet centres just for the sake of building."
SOURCE: Killkenny People
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