Outdoor Education Centre Forth Mountain...

Mocrie14

Anyone know did this ever get any further or was it just a pipe dream..?


Green light given for new outdoor education centre
PROJECT COULD BE OUT TO TENDER BY CHRISTMAS
Wednesday November 17 2010

THE NEW Outdoor Education Centre proposed for Carrigfoyle Quarry on Forth Mountain could go to tender before Christmas, Wexford County Council has heard.

The council members last week rubberstamped planning permission for the facility, which will replace the Shielbaggan outdoor education centre near Ramsgrange.

The new outdoor education centre will involve the erection of an outdoor activity centre, comprising a reception building, storage compound, boathouse, two climbing towers with twin zip wires running between the towers, an aerial trekking course and the installation of a septic tank with a willow treatment system.

The centre will be making full use of the natural amenities in the area, particularly the lake that now sits where the quarry once did and the surrounding woodland, which is owned by Coillte, who have approved three looped walkways on their land.

Cllr Padge Reck said it was unclear who was actually responsible for the project, Wexford County Council or Co Wexford VEC, and that local residents wanted to know exactly what the position was.

He said they have a number of concerns regarding issues such as trespassing, antisocial behaviour and access roads and were not sure who would actually be responsible for the centre when it opens.

Cllr Reck also wanted to know 'why Wexford County Council is applying for planning permission and building an outdoor pursuit facility for Co Wexford VEC?. He asked if by the council applying for planning they were using the Part 8 planning process to allow Co Wexford VEC ' bypass' proper planning procedures, as Part 8 involves local authorities essentially rubber-stamping their own applications.

Cllr Tony Dempsey said he was anxious to get local people behind the project and also asked who would be operating it.

Cllr Anna Fenlon was bemused as to how Cllr Reck was so confused, and reminded him he was not only a member of the county council, but the VEC and the county council's Wexford District Committee, all of whom had heard about the Carrigfoyle project before. 'He knows exactly what's going on - he needn't plead ignorance at all,' she said.

Director of Services Tony Larkin then confirmed that he had given a couple of presentations on the project, at meetings which Cllr Reck was at.

He said they needed planning before costings could be done the project could go to tender, describing it as ' a relatively modest development'.

Mr Larkin said the lake in the old quarry is 'pristine', but is also now a magnet for illegal dumping, with burnt-out cars in it that will have to be removed. He said it would be used for activities like canoeing when the new centre opens.

He said Coillte had agreed that looped walkways of four, seven and ten kilometres in the adjacent woods on Forth Mountain, pointing out that it is already a popular spot for walkers.

He said the Carrigfoyle outdoor education centre will be ' essentially aimed at recreational use of locals and tourists'.

Mr Larkin said the Part 8 planning process had attracted three submissions and that the council and VEC have recently met with local residents, whom he said have expressed an 'interest', rather than concerns or objections. Two local residents were in attendance at the meeting.

He rejected Cllr Reck's assertion that they were trying to get the application in the ' back door' for the VEC and said it was just a small application, involving some minor buildings.

'We ( Wexford County Council) don't want to operate it. It's proposed we will construct it and the VEC will then operate it,' said Mr Larkin, adding that the centre in Shielbaggan will close and relocate to Carrigfoyle, along with the current staff of the outdoor education centre.

The council heard that the VEC is funding the building and the activity related structures, while the County Council will fund the walkways and a mountain bike trail. The council will also spend in the region of €30,000 improving the poor access road on Forth Mountain, as it can't currently accommodate buses or other large vehicles.

The council and VEC have also applied for a grant of €1.5 million from Failte Ireland and are hopeful it will be successful as the tourism body are fully in favour of the project.

Mr Larkin said they hope to go to tender with the project before Christmas after planning was approved by the members. 'I think this is a great project,' said Cllr Jim Moore. 'If they don't want it down there we'll take it in Camolin,' said Cllr Declan MacPartlin, tongue firmly in cheek.

vicwatson

Planning application is up there at moment

thorn in the side

In addition to the post in the Wexford People Newspaper there were also the following posts in the Wexford Echo Newspaper:

”Carrigfoyle Quarry site to be transformed by activity centre” http://www.wexfordecho.ie/news/mhidkfcwoj/ on 11 November 2010

“Boost to employment as €1.8m Adventure Park to go for tender” http://www.wexfordecho.ie/news/mhidqleycw/ on 13 January 2011

You can see, however, Reck’s grubby little, killjoy fingers on the proposal –

“However, independent councillor Padge Reck wanted to know why the local authority, and not the VEC, had applied for planning.

He said he feared the council had gotten involved in the project so that local objections concerning anti-social behaviour, litter, trespass and road access could be ignored in the part 8 planning process.

“There’s no such thing as democracy when it comes to part 8. Why do I get the feeling that we are being used as a vehicle to bypass the planning process,” he said.

Cllr. Reck said the proposed willowbed sewerage system would not be accepted by the council if a private individual was to make a similar application and said there seemed to be one law for the council and one for everybody else.

Cllr. Reck’s thesis was rubbished by other members of the local authority, all of whom praised the project.”

- boy he really hates to see Co. Wexford VEC accomplishing anything.

Trevor Kent

This would be great for the area if it goes ahead. I know Id go. Wexford could do with another mountain bike trail.

vicwatson

Trevor Kent wrote: »

This would be great for the area if it goes ahead. I know Id go. Wexford could do with another mountain bike trail.

What it already has one?

Trevor Kent

It sure does....well a couple of unofficial ones.

I know there's a DH track in Bree

Mt Leinster is good for an old thrash.

Carrickbyrne hill has loads of trails to explore.

And if you are in need of a quick fix, Kellys woods in New Ross.

These are all unofficial as far as I know so it would be nice to have a purpose build job close by.

john47

Yes, it seems to be going ahead. Like everything at the moment - getting the funding. CPO adds are in the local papers this week anyway. It's aready a good place, cant wait for it to be done though, great views from around the whole there too

John Ryan