RESIDENTS living near a pharmaceutical plant have expressed their opposition to a rezoning proposal that would allow the company to expand its operations in the future.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has received 112 submissions regarding the proposed variation of its county development plan that would allow the rezoning of about 40 acres of land owned by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) off Pottery Road and Rochestown Avenue.
The plans would involve the NRH disposing a portion of its lands in Dun Laoghaire, which would potentially allow pharmaceutical company Amgen to expand its existing operations site on Pottery Road.
Amgen is currently in the process of carrying out a e160 million expansion of its plant and wants to buy around 18 acres of land to facilitate additional expansion in the future.
The disposal of the land would also provide the NRH with a significant portion of the funding it requires to facilitate its own plans for expansion.
The variation proposal would require the rezoning of four separate plots of land. The land includes sites currently owned by the Sisters of Mercy, which owns the hospital, and two adjoining tracts of land – the Clonkeen lands and the Workman’s Club lands.
Paddy Brock, a member of the Johnstown Residents’ Association, said some locals believe the scope of the proposal regarding the plant will
“swamp
? and
“change significantly
? the long established residential character of the area.
“Further significant expansion of this industrial complex will convert the wider area into a predominately industrial zone,
? he stated.
Mr Brock said there were concerns about emissions from the plant and called for stringent tests to be carried out to assure local residents that there are no health risks.
The residents of nearby Rochestown Avenue have also made a submission on the variation that strongly opposes the proposals.
“We do not accept that any future developments by Amgen on these lands would not lead to a serious loss of residential amenity and subsequent negative impact on property values to residential properties on Rochestown Avenue and on Oakdale Drive,
? their objection reads.
In his own submission, Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) said that any development on the Workman’s Club lands should be low density, light in nature with a light commercial/residential mix.
“Any development should be set back from surrounding neighbouring (residential) properties and access to these lands should only be permissible via Rochestown Avenue (existing entrance) or via Pottery Road.
?
In a statement Amgen said it currently has no plans for expansion at Pottery Road.
However, it added that
“any future development proposals submitted as part of the planning process would clearly demonstrate that the residential amenities of neighbouring properties would be respected and protected through sensitive design including the provision of appropriate boundary landscaping
?.
The company insisted that it operated the plant to the highest possible environmental standard.
“Amgen Dun Laoghaire operates under an Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Licence (P0019-02), granted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
? their statement reads.
“The EPA conducts regular audits to ensure full compliance and adherence to the strict standards, as dictated by that licence.
?
A spokeswoman for the NRH said:
“With reference to the matters raised, these are not specific to NRH and as such we believe should be referred to Amgen.
?
A spokeswoman for the Dun Laoghaire County Council said:
“As the council is engaged in a statutory variation process it is not appropriate to respond to individual submissions.
“The Manager’s report on the issues raised during the public consultation process has been circulated to councillors. The matter will be considered by the council at its meeting on April 8.
?