Greystones Archives - Councillor Derek Mitchell
Exploratory site works have started on the Greystones Media Campus which received Planning Permission a year ago. Once fully developed, the state-of-the art Greystones Media Campus will be Ireland’s largest studio complex offering 14 sound stages for use by domestic and international production companies. ‘The Campus will contribute to the creation of many jobs and reduce the reliance on commuting though it will be sad to see those field go’, said Cllr Derek Mitchell (FG)
Wicklow County Council is to look for bids to build an hotel and some other buildings such as apartments on land beside the Park n’ Ride site in Greystones. I welcome this and have long sought an hotel in Greystones. The Council outline plan suggested a 75 bed one, though I think it should be larger, have conference facilities and provide some extra space to add to the 450 Park n’ Ride spaces. The plan also suggests some apartments could be built and preserves many of the trees. The HSE…
On Monday 28th November the Council passed the budget unanimously without increasing the Commercial Rates as was originally recommended. A number of adjustments were made to some figures in light of better estimates. The Budget also includes 2 extra staff for Greystones as a result of a review of driver numbers. I analysed the figures and complained for years that there weren’t enough staff to cope with the rapid growth in Greystones and last year voted against the budget. The street cleaning machine has remained in the depot as there wasn’t…
I am concerned that consultation on the work to increase Greystones DARTs by 50% was supposed to start in 2022 but nothing is happening. I have asked the Council to get the National Transport Authority to start now. In 2018 I produced a plan to partially double track the line to Bray and a subsequent Jacobs report confirmed its feasibility. But nothing is happening!
Dr Ryan Park, between Delgany & Greystones needs a big makeover to make it more attractive. There is broken glass around the woods. It needs to be made more visible with lights, gorse & scrub cut back, large trees maintained, bins. The site should be very attractive with views of the Great & Little Sugar Loaf, Bray Head, the town & sea. I put down a motion to improve it at Greystones District but was told due to outdoor & engineering staff shortages nothing can be done at present. This…
The preliminary Census results show Greystones Municipal District has increased population by 4,041 to 30,352, a 15% increase since 2016. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population. This population growth was discussed at Tuesdays Municipal District meeting. Census 2022 also shows the population of Greystones-Delgany 405 short of 2028 target of 21,727. At least 1,000 houses are being built now and I expect Greystones will overshoot its 2028 target by at least 2,000…
The preliminary Census results show Greystones District has increased population by 4,041, a 15% increase since the 2016 Census. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population. Greystones share of the budget has remained at 12% for at least the last 5 years. It is by far the lowest spend of any area and it is not increasing with the population. Increasing population needs more resources. The Outdoor Staff are less than half that…
I have analysed the Councils 2022 Budget and found, once again, that Greystones is being used as a ‘Cash Cow’: Greystones receives 40% less expenditure than any other of the 5 areas. €190 spent per person as against €369 in the West and €288 on average. I will not be voting for the overall budget unless moves are made to correct this. Management have justified this in the past saying some years are up and some down. A 5 years analysis shows this is wrong, the underfunding is consistent. Also stated the…
It was announced in Los Angeles that the largest film & TV studio in Ireland is to start construction in Greystones. The first section, 7 stages & offices will be open mid 2024. Overall it will have 670,000 sq. ft. and employ over 1,000 people on the 44 acres. ‘I welcome this announcement as the town has the lowest number of local jobs of any place in Wicklow and this will help reduce the need for commuting. The site is central with good connections to DART, bus, road and cycle…
