News and views on Greystones harbour and marina [SEE MODERATOR WARNING POST 1187]

Harry Bosch · 02-12-2015 08:28PM

vinpaul wrote: »

New car park opened this morning. Looks terrific. Seems that part 2 will be at the other side towards Joe Sweeney's. Great to see construction work coming to an end. Now all we need to see finished is the residential section. Congratulations to Sisks for such good efficient work.

Ah, well, the devil is in the detail.

Sisk are doing this on the cheap and ignoring the specifications in the planning permission granted by Bord Pleanala, just as they have ignored other requirements of the approval since 2007.

Specification for the car park surface: granite setts.
What Sisk have installed: low quality reconstituted granite setts (powdered granite, chemically reconstituted and an inferior product)

Specified public lighting: non-light polluting, each unit costing about €1,200
Installed by Sisk: cheap units @ about €400 each, light polluting

No doubt this will continue. Watch what they use to surface the public plaza.

A jerry-built harbour which, no doubt, people will accept because "at least it's being finished".

And director of services at WCC Sean Quirke, who is supposed to be the guardian of the public interest in this, allows Sisk to get away with it.

Harry Bosch · 02-12-2015 10:04PM

LEIN: I got an email with your question but for some reason I can't see your post.

Anyway, no, the figures are not conjured. And it's all true.

I met a quantity surveyor down there the other day and we chatted. He seemed to know the final plans well and pointed out those two items as examples.

The price of the lighting units specified could have been more — I didn't make notes but I am erring on the low side if anything. He may have said €1,400.

He did say that €400 apiece was his own estimate of the cost of the units being installed, but was quite firm about them being way off spec in terms of light emissions.

And if you look closely you can see for yourself those blocks are not 'real' granite setts but some sort of amalgam.

I am minded to dig out the plans and check.

Surely the Harbour Liaison Committee should be revived to look into this and other failings. If I recall correctly it was suspended because no construction was occurring back in 2012. Well, there is now and having the HLC was a condition laid down by Bord Pleanala.

Harry Kane · 02-12-2015 11:15PM

The current cheap and shoddy sub standard materials Sisks are using on the harbour is in keeping with everything else about this the ugliest harbour in Ireland and afar. Does Sean Quirke ever consult the plans for the harbour as presented to the planning board and the public? Why does Wicklow Council remain blind to the numerous changes that Sisks have decided upon to the approved specifications? What is going on in the harbour is an absolute disgrace.

pixbyjohn · 03-12-2015 12:18AM

So all this really didn't achieve anything if above posts are anything to go by! Pity

SNIP by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

legrand · 03-12-2015 10:48AM

As evidenced over the years WCC has provide little or no oversight and has differed to Sisk at every turn. I can only assume this is because they have no expertise (i.e. amateurs) when it comes to programs such as this.

I trust the lighting is temporary (in an Irish context this could mean anything of course)

pixbyjohn · 06-12-2015 03:38PM

Harbour 6th December 2015 by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

pixbyjohn · 06-12-2015 03:41PM

Harbour 6th December 2015 by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

pixbyjohn · 06-12-2015 03:46PM

Harbour December 6th. 2015 by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

Harry Kane · 10-12-2015 11:18PM

Unsurprisingly the new low quality reconstituted granite setts are already showing signs of damage! Noticed a number of them chipped at the corners. God only knows what will happen to then when traffic drives on them. The tarmacadam surface at the new car park area that they put down last week was dug up and replaced yesterday! Is there anyone in charge?

Charlie-Bravo · 11-12-2015 09:09AM

Harry, I doubt anyone in charge is reading this. Your best avenue is with the council - get in touch with them. They can be helpful.

vinpaul · 12-12-2015 09:39AM

What was the problem with the surface that it had to be redone. I hope the contractor had to make good any defective work if that was the issue. It looked fine to me.
I must say I am very impressed with the progress that has been made in the last few months and look forward to the spring when we should have a terrific set of club houses and a colourful display in the boatyards, when the sailing boats etc are parked up.

Harry Bosch · 15-12-2015 01:16PM

pixbyjohn wrote: »

So all this really didn't achieve anything if above posts are anything to go by! Pity

I don't see how you can say that with a straight face, Pixbyjohn.

GUBOH actually succeeded in its prime objective, which was to get the hoardings down and the harbour opened to the public — I believe you even have some photos of that happy occasion!

OK, Sisk delayed and delayed, but in the end they buckled to public pressure, laid down some temporary surfaces, constructed the boat pens, and opened the south end of the harbour.

If it wasn't for GUBOH, we would have been staring at those hoardings from 2011 to now!

They went on to pressure Sisk and WCC to open the north pier, and that happened too.

OK, their support for the Community Plan came to nought, despite getting three councillors elected who were pledged to support it. But that was because of some dirty pool by FG councillors and Sean Quirke's utter refusal to put any pressure on Sisk on behalf of the community here in Greystones.

On balance, a good record of achievement by GUBOH.

red_bairn · 15-12-2015 05:17PM

Harry Bosch wrote: »

If it wasn't for GUBOH, we would have been staring at those hoardings from 2011 to now!

Well the way people go on about the "sight of the site" on here and Facebook it probably would have been a better idea!

pixbyjohn · 15-12-2015 08:22PM

Does anyone really think that Sisk were not going to take the hoardings down, open the north pier or continue albeit slowly the work that is now ongoing. It is in their interest to recover the vast amount of money they have invested in this project. Without the houses/apartments Sisk are on a loser and even you know that Harry. This scheme always progressed at Sisk's pace, regardless of your claims. I agree that the harbour has been a fiasco from day 1 and will continue to be. I am not on anyone's side in this debate, I just show what I see.

Harry Bosch · 15-12-2015 08:32PM

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Does anyone really think that Sisk were not going to take the hoardings down, open the north pier or continue albeit slowly the work that is now ongoing. It is in their interest to recover the vast amount of money they have invested in this project. Without the houses/apartments Sisk are on a loser and even you know that Harry. This scheme always progressed at Sisk's pace, regardless of your claims. I agree that the harbour has been a fiasco from day 1 and will continue to be. I am not on anyone's side in this debate, I just show what I see.

Anyone does think that, John. Why?

Because again and again Sisk refused to do these things — just look back at this forum in 2010 and 2011, plus 2012, to see that is the case.

In October 2010 they erected new hoardings, with reinforced supports embedded in concrete cubes. That was actually the trigger for GUBOH, as it indicated a plan to mothball the entire site until they felt like building the houses.

In 2011, they announced a plan to remove about 70 to 100 metres of hoarding along Cliff Road — but no public access.

Not alone that, they had total support from WCC in their continued refusal.

Might be an idea to check the facts before making wild statements, don't you think?

15-12-2015 09:06PM

Cool the jets there Harry, life is too short to get that worked up.
Thanks.

pixbyjohn · 15-12-2015 09:06PM

Harry Bosch wrote: »

Might be an idea to check the facts before making wild statements, don't you think?

Relax dear Harry

legrand · 15-12-2015 09:55PM

oh and it looks like hoarding coming back just opposite the Beach House - not sure how extensive it will be.

red_bairn · 16-12-2015 07:19AM

legrand wrote:

oh and it looks like hoarding coming back just opposite the Beach House - not sure how extensive it will be.

Is that for the public square area?

Harry Kane · 16-12-2015 12:56PM

Harry Bosch is 100% correct in stating that Sisks would have not done anything but for GUBOH. They were under absolutely no pressure from the council or most of it's delinquent councillors. I also fully agree with pixbyjohn that the harbour has been a fiasco from day 1. With no oversight from the council they are now filling the place with all manner of sub standard and cheap materials.

legrand · 16-12-2015 06:03PM

red_bairn wrote: »

Is that for the public square area?

Yes. It appears to be limited. I suspect these may turn out to be for advertising bill boards much like they had way back when - you know the type of stuff - young professional types, perhaps a mom with a pram wandering around aimlessly in a car park populated by occasional mercs and beemers.

Call me cynical.

pixbyjohn · 27-12-2015 04:47PM

Bray Head from Greystones Harbour by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

pixbyjohn · 27-12-2015 05:22PM

Billboard @ The Harbour, Greystones by Pixbyjohn, on Flickr

Annasopra · 27-12-2015 05:59PM

"enjoy your walk" caged sign. A spanking new footpath surrounded by a building site

I laughed at the deep deep irony of that sign.

pixbyjohn · 27-12-2015 07:43PM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

"enjoy your walk" caged sign. A spanking new footpath surrounded by a building site

I laughed at the deep deep irony of that sign.

Lots of people were enjoying the walk today, young and old.

karma_coma · 27-12-2015 10:11PM

Really hope the choice of street furniture (lighting fixtures, railings etc on the walls of the harbour itself) are a temporary measure until all building works are finished. They're of a seriously low standard for the location. Grand Canal Square, Clongriffin Park, even Greystones main street are examples of much higher quality finish.

Annasopra · 27-12-2015 10:33PM

pixbyjohn wrote: »

Lots of people were enjoying the walk today, young and old.

Is that new walk open?

pixbyjohn · 28-12-2015 02:45PM

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Is that new walk open?

There is a temporary route open at the moment from the harbour

BigGeorge · 04-01-2016 10:34AM

Not a Sisk sign to be seen anywhere - have they left the party?

BigGeorge · 04-01-2016 10:39AM

As for cheap finishes....well the difference between what had been installed & what was promised is plain to see. With years to run on this project, for a respectable property developer, it should be a bit early to be seen cutting such obvious corners.

www.mvgreystones.com

News and views on Greystones harbour and marina [SEE MODERATOR WARNING POST 1187]

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