Negative Impact on

Traffic Concerns

Users of the R173/175 (Greenore to Ballymascanlon Roundabout) will be personally affected by this proposed development. The New Port would be designed to accommodate 65,000 containers per annum and 100,000 ferry vehicles per annum (all commercial freight). These figures when added to traffic from the existing port facility will translate into over 800 port-related HGV movements per day, seven days a week, around the Cooley Peninsula.

This massive increase in HGV volumes will increase the risk to all roadusers.

So whether you use the road to travel to work, leave your children to school, go shopping, go to church or for whatever other reason, you will feel the effects of this proposed development in your daily life.

Tourism

The Cooley Peninsula has a fast-growing tourist industry which markets itself on the natural beauty of the area.

The recent well managed success of the tourist industry contributes significantly to employment. This is illustrated by the increase in visits according to the Carlingford Tourist Office from 16,500 in 2004 to 36,235 in 2006. The local tourist industry currently directly sustains five hotels, two adventure centres, two hostels, two sailing clubs, 14 restaurants, 13 B&Bs and numerous ancillary services.

The clogging of the roads of Cooley with over 800 truck movements daily will impact upon all these businesses and consequently the employment they generate.

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Aquaculture

As well as being renowned as a short break tourist destination Carlingford Lough is the premier oyster producing area on the east coast of Ireland. The shell fish growing areas of Carlingford Lough last year produced a natural crop to value of over €10million.

The proposed construction of the new port within 300 metres of some of the largest oyster beds is a significant danger to this industry.

Employment

Future job growth on the Peninsula must be in a balanced environment where we use our greatest assets to develop tourism, aquaculture, agriculture, transport and industry for the benefit of all. Unbalanced development in any sector is likely to have negative impacts on other sectors.

It is interesting to note the intentions of the private developers of Greenore  Port.

 In this regard may we draw your attention to a report published   by the Dept of Transport in Oct 2006.

 In reference to the new port and potential new employment the report states
“The developer ( Greenore Port ) plans to use mobile cranes rather than high capacity ship-to-shore gantry cranes, and will transfer labour from other port operations as and when needed, rather than recruiting a separate labour force for the terminal.”

The question is for each to decide, what future do you wish for Cooley?

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