There has been good news in Wicklow for watersports fans with the new public slip opening at Greystones harbour. It is now possible to launch three boats at one time even at low water (when most slips run out of water), which is a great improvement. At the moment it is understood only limited access is available to the slip as building works are undergoing. When finished there will be a second wide slip and Cllr Derek Mitchell of the town council maintains the new facilities will be the best public boat launching facilities in the country.
Sispar, who are building the harbour, stated that the marine works are still on target to be completed this October and building a Medical centre on the site will start then provided Wicklow Council vote for it in September. Completion is expected late in 2011. It is hoped to build the Public Square, Clubhouses and take down the hoardings by the same time.
Greystones Marina under construction in June 2010
Because of this building it is unlikely that the planned 200 berth marina can open until early 2012 as land access will be across the building site. Sispar is keen to add up to 34 houses to the planning permission later and will consider this following Bord Pleanala’s ruling that moving some of the old town dump will require their approval. The problem being that Bord Pleanala’s approval process could take over a year.
No entry to boaters in the marina basin
Cllr Mitchell has made a submission to the Planning process to ask that better drainage be provided in Darcy’s field to try to reduce erosion and that more boat storage and maintenance areas be provided to produce more jobs. "Also I have asked that the large Public Square be reorganised to provide more open continuous space for major town events such as concerts, parades, car shows etc" he told Afloat.ie
