Center Parcs Resort for Longford

gingernut79

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/center-parcs-to-seek-planning-for-100m-resort-in-co-longford-1.2161156

Great news if it goes ahead - we could certainly use the jobs and tourist dollars!

davehey79

i swear i thought it was the most elaborate April fools joke when i heard it on Sshannonside this morning !! That was until it was on all the national stations and papers !!

road_high

Is it an April fool or not? Be delighted for Longford if true as it needs a big boost.

davehey79

It's not an April Fools was just the timing had me questioning it !

DragonKhan

Absolutely fantastic news for Longford! Biggest jobs boost since Abbott healthcare?

Bummer1234

Great news, Hope everything goes well in the planning stages.

road_high

Delighted for Longford. I'd say a lot of effort has gone in behind the scenes to persuade them to set up. Really important as the county has suffered worse than anywhere since recession

delahuntv

I think the "leaked" announcement yesterday was purposeful as in a way you woudl think it as an April Fools joke - then you see where Center parcs locate in UK - same sort of location.

These are great places - obviously you get the family holidays in the summer & easter, but in off peak times they have a huge amount of corporate business (I was at 2 conferences in center parcs). You can just see the googles, facebooks, twitters etc having their employee get togethers there.

DragonKhan

I can't get over how great this is for Longford!

All the same if you read the comments on social media and on other threads there is a horrendous amount of begrudgerry and mocking of Longford by those outside the county

ratracer

I'm not from anywhere near Longford, but I really hope this goes ahead. However I fear all the 'environ mentalists' and tree huggers are gonna cause havoc with planning, building etc.... 'Not in my forest'

DragonKhan

ratracer wrote: »

I'm not from anywhere near Longford, but I really hope this goes ahead. However I fear all the 'environ mentalists' and tree huggers are gonna cause havoc with planning, building etc.... 'Not in my forest'

If they do I'll come back from the UK and tell em to eff off from my old running track

road_high

DragonKhan wrote: »

I can't get over how great this is for Longford!

All the same if you read the comments on social media and on other threads there is a horrendous amount of begrudgerry and mocking of Longford by those outside the county

Load of rubbish. Longford has an image problem alright but a lot of it is to do with the place being continually ignored by successive govts. I'm not from up there but it's obvious as day it's needs special help and incentives to promote development, over and above other parts.
Hope it gets going soon. As well development of the N/M4 road for access.

CatFromHue

I think the place they're proposing is only a few km's from the Royal Canal, Abbeyshrule, so could be a good link up there for cyclists cycling it.

Fuzzy Clam

CatFromHue wrote: »

I think the place they're proposing is only a few km's from the Royal Canal, Abbeyshrule, so could be a good link up there for cyclists cycling it.

people going to this place won't be cycling.

KAGY

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

people going to this place won't be cycling.

They mightn't be cycling there but there will certainly be a lot with bikes. A good track along the canal will allow the "outdoorsie family" to cycle a fair distance.

Lux23

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/center-parcs-to-unveil-model-for-200m-longford-site-1.2332465

Big unveiling, I hope it goes down well but they retain the natural beauty of the forest.

KAGY

Some 15 Longford county councillors and the four local TDs James Bannon,Willie Penrose, Robert Troy andGabrielle McFadden visited its latest development, Center Parcs Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire this week. [\quote]

19 of them! FFS. I wonder who paid for them?

Fuzzy Clam

I presume it means that those of us that use the woods for walking will no longer be allowed to once the state owned woods have been sold to a private entity.

INPUT INNPUT

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

I presume it means that those of us that use the woods for walking will no longer be allowed to once the state owned woods have been sold to a private entity.

Hi Fuzzy, it's gonna change abit alright, see the new green path around the perimeter (outside) on the map here, Number 4



That's the new walk they are (supposedly) gonna make to keep the local riff-raff away from the high end clientele they are expecting to fill the uber expensive Cabins during the WK.


Now, this lot,


after their jolly boys paid for outing will probably agree to anything after their few days away so you'd be needing to check if that remains when the planning permission goes in...you'd imagine it'd be a first thing on the list/basic requirement for local access to remain but with this country nowadays...:rolleyes:

Centre Parcs are back in Ballymahon on the 7th and 8th Sep so you'd could go and have a chat/look at the Model they're supposed to be bringing but again they'll promise the moon and Stars for now if it means getting permission.

Long Gone

KAGY wrote: »

Some 15 Longford county councillors and the four local TDs James Bannon,Willie Penrose, Robert Troy andGabrielle McFadden visited its latest development, Center Parcs Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire this week. [\quote]

19 of them! FFS. I wonder who paid for them?

I'll give you one guess - The Irish taxpayers .:mad:

Long Gone

INPUT INNPUT wrote: »

Where was Gabrielle hiding when the photo was taken ?

Dick Turnip

http://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/center-parcs-unveils-200m-plans-for-longford-forest-resort-31507615.html

Bit more detail of development announced today

DragonKhan

What is your problem with Longford? Do you even know anything about the actual location this is being built? I do as I grew up next to it and it will be a fantastic location for it.

KAGY

He wasn't getting the response he wanted here so he started a thread in AH for some more Longford basing.

Obvious troll is obvious.

Apart from the jollies and junkets by our councillors and TDs and the loss of a walking route I've no problem with this at all.
I've also seen no reports of direct govt spending on this (open to correction on that) so even of it fails we're no worse off

Angron

On the mobile at the minute, but their post is gone. They are after a reaction, don't give them the satisfaction folks.

Angron

And they have been banned. Carry on folks.

Dick Turnip

https://twitter.com/SineadHus/status/704283757193330690

PP granted today for this

Angron

Aye, saw that too. About time a decision was made, one way or the other really.

Richard tea

Really looking forward to the park opening. Are they currently building? Any idea when it's complete?

Spanish Eyes

Delighted for ya all.

Now just to put the kibosh on it, did some farmer make a mint selling the land, or is it a Company like Coillte or something. Just wondered!

Should be great when ready, and easily accessible from anywhere in the country really.

If marketed correctly, lots of overseas visitors too hopefully, for the clean air and forest surroundings. Win, win.

All the best.

Fuzzy Clam

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Delighted for ya all.

Now just to put the kibosh on it, did some farmer make a mint selling the land, or is it a Company like Coillte or something. Just wondered!

Should be great when ready, and easily accessible from anywhere in the country really.

If marketed correctly, lots of overseas visitors too hopefully, for the clean air and forest surroundings. Win, win.

All the best.

Coillte I think.

jimd2

http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0726/804870-center-parcs-longford/

Good news but I wonder what the additional planning conditions are. These and Brexit could possibly affect the financials so it's not a done deal yet.

Angron

It'd be nice to get some progress one way or the other on this. The perpetual delaying has been quite frustrating.

Graham

jimd2 wrote: »

Good news but I wonder what the additional planning conditions are.

Details just published on the ABP website:

http://www.pleanala.ie/news/246336/246336.htm

ThisRegard

Conditions sounds reasonable enough, starting on page 10 of this doc http://www.pleanala.ie/news/246336/R246336.pdf

nice_guy80

Best of luck to them

Sorry to see the woods being developed as they are a lovely spot for walks etc
But you cannot argue with that many jobs

Dublinhurler

I've seen people saying all sorts recently about centre parcs coming. I think it is great and can't wait for it to open. I think the jobs that will come from building and jobs from when it opens are huge boost. I feel the amount of visitors to Ireland and Longford will benefit the country and local businesses too.

longford101

its fantastic! delighted for the county

everybodyhas1

The locals don't know what they've given up..& can never get back for future generations. Shame on a town that has no confidence in itself.

Graham

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

The locals don't know what they've given up..& can never get back for future generations. Shame on a town that has no confidence in itself.

They've 'given-up' hundreds of unemployed people.

everybodyhas1

Graham wrote: »

They've 'given-up' hundreds of unemployed people.

How about if the town had seen its own potential? The forest, canal and river have always been here - & free to enjoy. A huge part of Ballymahons' charm is its pristine scenery . The Traders & towns people could have come together and promoted its central location as one where tourists could go mountain biking, trail walking, camping, kayaking, horse-back riding, birdwatching and fishing. All could have supported genuine local employment.
They could have promoted their fresh grown produce in restaurants and shops, with a huge focus on healthy lifestyles. In these times of concern regarding mental health not to mention growing concerns over physical health, free outdoor space is a commodity which we should be trying to hold on to- not sell off.
The forest here has always been beautiful and here for anyone to enjoy- some people don't see the value of a thing until a price tag is slapped onto it.
The people here could have created jobs based on the lifestyle of being able to just drive to the forest and pitch a tent wherever your fancy. Hunting and fishing is regulated and local fauna protected from over hunting, but the activities are practiced, and there some beautiful areas in which to enjoy them. Furthermore, the town should have independently done these things. In center parcs, you eat there and sleep there. It's an absolute shame that the town has allowed itself to be exploited. The potential for local run hotels and eateries here would the been incredible. Marketed as the heart of ireland where the focus was on health, well-being, quality of life, education and art and free space. Available to all. You will not be permitted to set foot in the forest now unless you pay to stay at least one night thanks to Centre Parcs means greed.

Graham

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

The Traders & towns people could have come together and promoted its central location as one where tourists could go mountain biking, trail walking, camping, kayaking, horse-back riding, birdwatching and fishing. All could have supported genuine local employment.

Why didn't you organise that years ago? Why didn't the 'towns people'? You reckon that would have created 1000+ jobs and injected several hundred million into the local economy?

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

You will not be permitted to set foot in the forest now

I suggest you go and familiarise yourself with the planning application/conditions. I understand there will be an increase in the public footpaths, not a decrease.

everybodyhas1

Just wondering, Graham, have you been in the forest? Why would paths around the perimeter improve things for the locals? It's a forest. I have familirised myself with the plans. And I know how well how they have been presented in a misleading light.
As I said, the people here have no confidence in their own abilities and in what was to offer here. That's what's upsetting. They will allow a few make a lot of money from what was once theirs while they are expected to be grateful for minimum wage.

Graham

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

Why would paths around the perimeter improve things for the locals?

I think it's safe to say that for a very large number of locals, feeding, clothing, housing and generally supporting themselves and their families is an order of magnitude further up their hierarchy of needs.

Let's face it, the entire county has been an employment dessert for many people. Spouting some fridge-magnet-philosophy 'have confidence in your own abilities' hasn't or isn't likely to change that. Large scale employment is what's needed and that's exactly what's being generated here. If that means redirecting the weekend stroll of a handful of people, so be it.

everybodyhas1

I agree that feeding, clothing, housing are the most important thing for the locals here. I'm saying that this was possible without turning to a faceless corporation to do it for the town - making those at the top incredibly wealthy.

Why wasn't it done before? There was a recession. Now health and wellbeing tourism is about to be a huge industy.

I'm saying employment should have been created here locally. Without giving up the local commodities to a huge company.

Families should have free open space. Not just some rusty swings and a green beside a drive way. That's healthy for body and mind. Not everything you have to pay for is what makes gives you a sense of happiness and makes your life enjoyable.

I think we're agreed in what the town needs - employment & security. Had you not been so intent on arguing for arguments sake you may have noticed that. I just believe there was another way to go about it.

Graham

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

Had you not been so intent on arguing for arguments sake you may have noticed that.

I just disagree with you, it's that simple.

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

I just believe there was another way to go about it.

I think a 1000+ jobs in the hand is worth infinitely more than some airy fairy, coulda shoulda woulda hot air.

tarmon

Centre Parcs signed for the purchase of 400 acres from Coillte at Ballymahon yesterday so it looks like the development is definitely going ahead!

Dublinhurler

I heard that hoarding was being erected this week and tree felling will be done shortly so I'm delighted it's beginning to take progress.

SeanieMon

Yeah, was back home over the weekend, and was out that way visiting relatives. Good to see the wheels firmly in motion.

cherryghost

Construction of pedestrian footpaths starting this month.

nice_guy80

all paths into the forest have been fenced off with security fencing

no more walks allowed