Center Parcs Resort for Longford

nice_guy80 · 13-11-2016 1:49am

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

no more walks allowed

_Lady_ · 13-11-2016 5:24pm

nice_guy80 wrote: »

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

no more walks allowed

Hi guys, just to clarify, all paths have not been closed, there is approximately 40-50 per cent of the forest which is definitely unaffected on the town side of the River Inny, and there are still paths on the Center Parcs development side that are still accessible at the moment as far as I know. Also, with the perimeter walk, there is a buffer of tree cover I think which that walk way will run through so it's not just running around the outside of the forest, it will be a woodland walk, and a lot easier to navigate/travel on than some of the existing tracks for people with mobility issues.

To address points made on this thread earlier this year, the local people couldn't have done this themselves, where were they to get 233 million euro? Also the forest wasn't theirs to do with what they wished, it was a commercially grown forest, for logging and in fact, I understand, was due to be razed completely by around 2020 as it had come to "logging maturity" so no, there wouldn't have been a "natural" "freely available" amenity, it would have been gone.

Now the forest will be preserved by an eco friendly company, visitors will get to come and stay in it for many years to come, and some of the heritage/archaelogical sites within it will be shown off.

Meanwhile, the locals are busy preparing the town for tourists, continuing their work on the rivers and canals which they have been actively promoting and working on for years as well as the historical aspects of the town - it has huge cultural/literary links.

Locals are living and learning and working hard... for those criticising the town and people in it, could I suggest that maybe you come and visit and put your money where your mouth is if you have so much to say about a town and county that is doing its best to promote itself and improve itself. Or if you are already a local, bring someone else to visit and see the town through new eyes. Just a thought.

nice_guy80 · 15-11-2016 10:54am

_Lady_ wrote: »

Hi guys, just to clarify, all paths have not been closed, there is approximately 40-50 per cent of the forest which is definitely unaffected on the town side of the River Inny, and there are still paths on the Center Parcs development side that are still accessible at the moment as far as I know. Also, with the perimeter walk, there is a buffer of tree cover I think which that walk way will run through so it's not just running around the outside of the forest, it will be a woodland walk, and a lot easier to navigate/travel on than some of the existing tracks for people with mobility issues.

To address points made on this thread earlier this year, the local people couldn't have done this themselves, where were they to get 233 million euro? Also the forest wasn't theirs to do with what they wished, it was a commercially grown forest, for logging and in fact, I understand, was due to be razed completely by around 2020 as it had come to "logging maturity" so no, there wouldn't have been a "natural" "freely available" amenity, it would have been gone.

Now the forest will be preserved by an eco friendly company, visitors will get to come and stay in it for many years to come, and some of the heritage/archaelogical sites within it will be shown off.

Meanwhile, the locals are busy preparing the town for tourists, continuing their work on the rivers and canals which they have been actively promoting and working on for years as well as the historical aspects of the town - it has huge cultural/literary links.

Locals are living and learning and working hard... for those criticising the town and people in it, could I suggest that maybe you come and visit and put your money where your mouth is if you have so much to say about a town and county that is doing its best to promote itself and improve itself. Or if you are already a local, bring someone else to visit and see the town through new eyes. Just a thought.

where did I criticise
all I said was the walkways on the abbeyshrule road end were closed off.
and a perimeter fence installed

Graham · 15-11-2016 11:25am

nice_guy80 wrote: »

where did I criticise

I suspect that was aimed at some of the earlier posts in the thread.

_Lady_ · 15-11-2016 2:32pm

Absolutely, the criticism was earlier, but also a lot of people are saying that it's completely closed and that's why I wanted to clarify, in fairness Nice Guy, you didn't specify the Abbeyshrule Road end and if you did somewhere else, my apols, I didn't see that.

baldbear · 15-11-2016 10:12pm

Hi Lady, do you know who first looked at Longford for a centre parcs destination?

When I first heard and saw some of our local politicians in the photo ops I thought it was wishful thinking.

I can't wait to see the final result & go holidaying in Ballymahon with the family!

_Lady_ · 15-11-2016 10:20pm

I think it's safe to say that Center Parcs looked at Longford for a Center Parcs destination!

I know that every politician, local and national were all fully behind it throughout, as well as the county council staff and the guys at Coillte. My understanding is that they investigated options a few years previous as well, and that it was down to the location and the maturity of the tree coverage that got Newcastle the prize. I'm looking forward to it meself! From my brief exp over visiting one in UK, it doesn't matter where you are, it's like you can cut yourself off from the world when you go in. Local challenge is to try and get some of the visitors out to the surrounding areas.

nice_guy80 · 18-11-2016 7:47pm

Cycling along the canals will be crucial for local areas

everybodyhas1 · 07-02-2017 9:44pm

"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."

Now I am seeing the 'progress' first hand. The canal has been destroyed. Your 'increase in the public footpaths' are an absolute eye sore. And this is just the begining by all accounts. Disgusting. County councillors should be ashamed of themselves. Once beautiful scenery is simply gone.

Graham · 07-02-2017 9:48pm

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

"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."

Now I am seeing the 'progress' first hand. The canal has been destroyed. Your 'increase in the public footpaths' are an absolute eye sore. And this is just the begining by all accounts. Disgusting. County councillors should be ashamed of themselves. Once beautiful scenery is simply gone.

You said yourself, it's in progress. There is nothing in the history of Centre Parcs construction projects to suggest they will not finish the job so I'm struggling to see what your issue is.

everybodyhas1 · 07-02-2017 10:47pm

Graham wrote: »

You said yourself, it's in progress. There is nothing in the history of Centre Parcs construction projects to suggest they will not finish the job so I'm struggling to see what your issue is.

I wrote progress in inverted commas. They will finish the job. That's not the point. The point, which you so struggle to see, is that Centre Parcs is not just confined to the public land they have bought from future generations, it's tendrils have reached much further. Centre Parcs have been granted the use of other public lands, of which they are destroying the natural, picturesque beauty. I do not agree that the countryside should be paved and have tar mac poured over it in this way. The nuances of what makes a place unique are taken away leaving a sterile shadow of its former beauty. I believe these tourists would prefer to see the genuine ireland they have paid to visit.

Graham · 07-02-2017 11:00pm

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

I wrote progress in inverted commas. They will finish the job. That's not the point. The point, which you so struggle to see, is that Centre Parcs is not just confined to the public land they have bought from future generations, it's tendrils have reached much further. Centre Parcs have been granted the use of other public lands, of which they are destroying the natural, picturesque beauty. I do not agree that the countryside should be paved and have tar mac poured over it in this way. The nuances of what makes a place unique are taken away leaving a sterile shadow of its former beauty. I believe these tourists would prefer to see the genuine ireland they have paid to visit.

The majority of it wasn't public land.

The majority of tourists are expected to be 'genuine' Irish people. I can guarantee the majority of those would never consider Longford as a holiday destination but for Centre Parcs.

Dublinhurler · 07-02-2017 11:16pm

The land was going to be cleared over the next couple of years. So if centre Parcs didn't cut down the trees put in tar Mac drive trucks on paths someone else would have.

You say tourists would prefer to see these trees and the beautiful scenery, there is still a shed load of trees there for them to look at and walk around. If tourists were wanting to see them trees why have they not come to longford over the last 10 years to see them. Centre Parcs is going to bring more tourists to this county than anything else. It's going to create huge employment.

If the people of longford came together they could come up with ideas to get these tourists into all the other parts of longford.

everybodyhas1 · 07-02-2017 11:28pm

I agree that the forest was not enjoyed to its fullest. Many locals only ventured in after the announcements & more still did not know where it was or had never heard of it previously. The forest should have been better promoted .
The mature trees would have been harvested, but clearly those quoting this from another users previous post don't understand that the whole forest is not made up compleatly of trees for harvesting. It has a huge amount of native Irish trees which would have remained. To say that the trees would have been cut & Coillte pack up & leave is plain ridiculous. So naive.
You all have dollar signs in your eyes. You can sell sell sell all your natural amenities, but where's the quality of life at the end of it all?
It's not all about the bottom of a balance sheet.

Graham · 07-02-2017 11:31pm

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

You all have dollar signs in your eyes. You can sell sell sell all your natural amenities, but where's the quality of life at the end of it all?
It's not all about the bottom of a balance sheet.

There's close on a thousand people who will soon be employed that otherwise may not be. Ask them if a job or a few alternative trees is going to have the biggest impact on their quality of life.

everybodyhas1 · 08-02-2017 10:33am

Graham wrote: »

There's close on a thousand people who will soon be employed that otherwise may not be. Ask them if a job or a few alternative trees is going to have the biggest impact on their quality of life.

I understand what you're saying Graham, and I'm sure a lot of people would think Centre Parcs will be favourable, but what I'm saying is that they are are short sighted about what it is that gives quality to life. I am also aware of older local people who are afraid to speak out and voice their concerns about the impact of this venture on the county.

lawred2 · 08-02-2017 10:35am

everybodyhas1 wrote: »

I understand what you're saying Graham, and I'm sure a lot of people would think Centre Parcs will be favourable, but what I'm saying is that they are are short sighted about what it is that gives quality to life. I am also aware of older local people who are afraid to speak out and voice their concerns about the impact of this venture on the county.

Have you spoken to such people? What concerns have they voiced to you that they are afraid to publicly voice?

cherryghost · 08-02-2017 11:27am

You know there was a public council meeting to voice these opinions before it was approved. At the meeting nobody spoke up against the proposals. If you weren't there you didnt make yourself informed of the situation, its well past the stage now and its going ahead whether you like it or not.

As someone who lived in Longford for 10 years, I've seen the county at its high point and swallowed whole. I had to leave the county because I could not find a job anywhere. My personal take for Centreparcs is only a highly positive one. Not only to create jobs within the resort itself but the knock-on effect should revive the county again.

All that being said I'd be very interested in the progress made via photo progression.

arkrow · 08-02-2017 10:45pm

Have family near to it so know it fairly well, often went down and ran the perimeter 4 times and never met a sinner so it was completely wasted on the locals, very few used it. If it wasn't for Bertie trying to get it for nothing I doubt Centre Parcs would have ever found out about it but considering what he had planned for it if it had to go, centre p was the lesser evil.

I can't see 1000 people needed to serve a maximum 2500 guests unless it's gonna be 15 hour contracts or the like. And they're no good.

The new public perimeter path is well on, if they built it any closer to the abbeyshrule road off the R392 people would have ended up on on the road, it's right beside it! I haven't seen the plans, the path must be on it, I'm surprised locals didn't push for that to be moved in a little bit.

Actually heres a plan for it, 40 metre buffer zone...I'd have to get out my measureing tape...

The car park section has been cleared of trees already.

GN4_DAT_7597712.jpg--.jpg

They're expecting people to spend up to 9 grand for a week in the place when it's finished.

They have a longford section on the centre parcs site now.

TooObvious · 09-02-2017 3:05pm

Agree with Arkrow above. My brother and I have regularly ran this section of the forest and have rarely come across others, like other posters have said people only became aware of the forest after the announcement of CentreParcs. Indeed, most visitors actually visit the forest on the opposite side of the river, which already had paths cut through it.

A point was made earlier on about the canal being destroyed? The paving of the Abbeyshrule - Ballymahon section of the canal is part of an overall project to make all of the Royal Canal more accessible. I have cycled the canal from Dublin to Ballymahon in the past and would note that the completion of this route (Kildare need to get the finger out) will result in more people enjoying the canal than ever before - including tourists.

That's my opinion, and sure everybodyhas1 of them.

arkrow · 09-02-2017 8:01pm

TooObvious wrote: »

Agree with Arkrow above. My brother and I have regularly ran this section of the forest and have rarely come across others, like other posters have said people only became aware of the forest after the announcement of CentreParcs. Indeed, most visitors actually visit the forest on the opposite side of the river, which already had paths cut through it.

Caked in dog sh1te over there now since they cleared and re-pebbled it. Dogs should be banned.

TooObvious wrote: »

A point was made earlier on about the canal being destroyed? The paving of the Abbeyshrule - Ballymahon section of the canal is part of an overall project to make all of the Royal Canal more accessible. I have cycled the canal from Dublin to Ballymahon in the past and would note that the completion of this route (Kildare need to get the finger out) will result in more people enjoying the canal than ever before - including tourists.

That's my opinion, and sure everybodyhas1 of them.

Yea, canal work is seperate and on going a long time, good and bad cuz of aforementioned dog sh1t all over the place. Centre parcs have future plans to join up the forest with the canal.

TooObvious · 10-02-2017 10:05am

arkrow wrote: »

Caked in dog sh1te over there now since they cleared and re-pebbled it. Dogs should be banned.

Yea, canal work is seperate and on going a long time, good and bad cuz of aforementioned dog sh1t all over the place. Centre parcs have future plans to join up the forest with the canal.

Agree with you on the above!

road_high · 11-02-2017 5:42pm

Centre parcs sell themselves on their surroundings and a nice environment. It's not in their business to destroy nice forests.,

nice_guy80 · 19-02-2017 6:27pm

road_high wrote: »

Centre parcs sell themselves on their surroundings and a nice environment. It's not in their business to destroy nice forests.,

pity, cause they're digging up a perfectly mature wood at the moment

there's been a lot of fly tipping on the abbeyshrule road since the fencing went up.
I do agree the perimeter path is very close to the external boundary

arkrow · 19-02-2017 8:57pm

nice_guy80 wrote: »

pity, cause they're digging up a perfectly mature wood at the moment

Yea, the carpark bit that they've cleared was the nicer natural bit of the forest, not the nasty commercial stuff, they fecked that up rightly. Surly they could've planned that better.

nice_guy80 wrote: »

there's been a lot of fly tipping on the abbeyshrule road since the fencing went up.
I do agree the perimeter path is very close to the external boundary

Yea, somebody ain't happy. It was worse a month back when I was down last, it's been cleaned up abit.

Some company is gonna do well outta this road budget.

‘Realising our Rural Potential’, what a crock of sh1te.

hondar · 23-02-2017 8:51pm

contract awarded to roadbridge.

arkrow · 23-02-2017 9:46pm

hondar wrote: »

contract awarded to roadbridge.

http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/02/23/4135503-center-parcs-infrastructure-work-to-begin-in-may/

indeq · 30-08-2017 12:34am

The new public walk is fairly poor, the stones under foot are to big, should be pebbles, as mentioned earlier in thread, they didn't honour the 40 metre buffer zone, very close to road on one side, nearly out in a field another side. I was having a look at work reviews online, seems to be an pretty bad company to work for.

nice_guy80 · 18-10-2017 4:38pm

heard 200 trees came down in the storm on Monday

Kuva · 09-12-2017 9:30pm

Has it's own website now

https://www.centerparcs.ie/

nice_guy80 · 11-12-2017 11:30am

they've done a good job on the road out to the Mullingar road

nice_guy80 · 14-01-2018 3:41pm

gas pipeline from Athlone gone out to tender

800 lads starting work on the chalets

Kuva · 09-05-2018 10:29pm

12% I think of the forest they said they were gonna cut...looks like 60-70%? Doesn't look like it can be replanted either.

Accidentally · 25-05-2018 6:17pm

Kuva wrote: »

12% I think of the forest they said they were gonna cut...looks like 60-70%? Doesn't look like it can be replanted either.

The photographs only show part of Newcastle Woods. It's not great, but not half as bad as it looks. On the plus side there's a huge amount of forestry planted in the area in the last 15 years, including deciduous, so there's easily an increase in coverage.

Whatever they do, it'll never come close to the sins of Bord na Mona

Kuva · 25-05-2018 11:55pm

Accidentally wrote: »

The photographs only show part of Newcastle Woods. It's not great, but not half as bad as it looks. On the plus side there's a huge amount of forestry planted in the area in the last 15 years, including deciduous, so there's easily an increase in coverage.

Whatever they do, it'll never come close to the sins of Bord na Mona

The rest of Newcastle woods that we don't see in the pic would just be the bit on the other side of the river that they didn't buy. Now, the path didn't stick to the plans, to close to road on one side, pretty much outside the forest for most of the back end, more trees gone than should be...you just know now if you go in there they're sticking to nothing.

Accidentally · 26-05-2018 3:00am

Kuva wrote: »

Accidentally wrote: »

The photographs only show part of Newcastle Woods. It's not great, but not half as bad as it looks. On the plus side there's a huge amount of forestry planted in the area in the last 15 years, including deciduous, so there's easily an increase in coverage.

Whatever they do, it'll never come close to the sins of Bord na Mona

The rest of Newcastle woods that we don't see in the pic would just be the bit on the other side of the river that they didn't buy. Now, the path didn't stick to the plans, to close to road on one side, pretty much outside the forest for most of the back end, more trees gone than should be...you just know now if you go in there they're sticking to nothing.

There are still large areas by Newcastle House and to the north and south, so no it's not just the area on the other side of the Inny. I'm not going to get too protective over what they've removed as most of it was commercial conifers which wolud have been clear felled and was quite frankly, muck.

As I said, there's lots of new forestry planted in the area, and most of it is a lot more environmentally valuable than what is being removed at Newcastle Woods.

JupiterKid · 13-10-2018 10:58pm

Great to see actual physical progress being made on this major development.

It will bring in much needed revenue and jobs to the midlands and Longford. This is the biggest single development ever to happen in Longford and yet there are those out there who are begrudging and whinging about it. Pathetic!

Look at the positives and not the negatives. Because the former vastly outweighs the latter.

nice_guy80 · 15-10-2018 12:01pm

any more recent overhead shots?

a lot of the groundwork will have been covered by grass now

marvin80 · 24-10-2018 1:16pm

JupiterKid wrote: »

Great to see actual physical progress being made on this major development.

It will bring in much needed revenue and jobs to the midlands and Longford. This is the biggest single development ever to happen in Longford and yet there are those out there who are begrudging and whinging about it. Pathetic!

Look at the positives and not the negatives. Because the former vastly outweighs the latter.

Hopefully it'll be a massive success.

1000+ jobs - amazing for Longford

Kuva · 24-10-2018 6:22pm

How do people think it will do in the long term?

They didn't build it all so even they are not sure?
Job reviews on Indeed are mostly awful, doesn't seem like a nice place to work.

hondar · 24-10-2018 6:42pm

I have worked on it for the last 20 months.only downside i can see is,no local people employed on it.95% are from outside longford,westmeath,roscommon.

Plumbthedepths · 24-10-2018 6:52pm

hondar wrote:

I have worked on it for the last 20 months.only downside i can see is,no local people employed on it.95% are from outside longford,westmeath,roscommon.

If the prices charged at their other resorts are anything to go by, it's going to be very expensive to stay there.

Kuva · 24-10-2018 7:09pm

hondar wrote: »

I have worked on it for the last 20 months.only downside i can see is,no local people employed on it.95% are from outside longford,westmeath,roscommon.

I mean when it's open.

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

If the prices charged at their other resorts are anything to go by, it's going to be very expensive to stay there.

This to, you'll be able to go to the sun somewhere for half what it's going to cost to go to most likely raining, longford.

nice_guy80 · 25-10-2018 2:57pm

I don't think the weather will make much of a difference

salmocab · 25-10-2018 3:03pm

These places aren’t cheap but the ones in England hardly get amazing weather we don’t.
They are however a hassle free family holiday just pack the car and kids and go. From Dublin you would be there in approximately the time it takes to drive to the airport and wait for your flight and that will appeal to a lot of people. Especially for shorter 4/5 night trips.

marvin80 · 25-10-2018 3:11pm

Kuva wrote: »

I mean when it's open.

This to, you'll be able to go to the sun somewhere for half what it's going to cost to go to most likely raining, longford.

Luckily they planned for the rain:

https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/features/302569/watch-the-subtropical-swimming-paradise-experience-that-is-coming-to-center-parcs-longford-forest.html

petr1 · 07-11-2018 10:29pm

1000 MINIMUM WAGE JOBS (OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE) THE PLACE WILL BE A REVOLVING DOOR OF STAFF LIKE IN ENGLAND

Plumbthedepths · 12-11-2018 11:55am

Just saw an advertisement for a warehouse supervisor being advertised for this resort. 150 hours over a 4 week period. 466 a week. Not minimum wage but not great for what seems to be unset hours.

vargoo · 12-11-2018 1:12pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

Just saw an advertisement for a warehouse supervisor being advertised for this resort. 150 hours over a 4 week period. 466 a week. Not minimum wage but not great for what seems to be unset hours.

437 a week actually before tax

11.66 an hour. 37.5 hours. Very bad.

Read reviews of this place, alot of negative.

Edit:After tax 390.

ifElseThen · 14-11-2018 4:06pm

€2028 for 1 week stay in April 2019 for 2 adults and five children under 10. Crazy prices.

Center Parcs Resort for Longford

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