Lack of industrial land forcing Gorey businesses out of the town – ‘We’ve lost three companies already to Arklow’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

With hundreds of commuters already travelling from Gorey to Dublin for work each morning, the north Wexford town now risks losing even more of its workforce to neighbouring Arklow. A lack of land zoned for industrial purposes had led to Gorey-based company, Weatherglaze Windows, being offered a 15-acre site in Arklow, Co Wicklow with the potential for 150 new jobs.

Calling for more industrial land in Gorey, Councillor Anthony Donohue said the town would continue to lose some of its most skilled workers unless Wexford County Council (WCC) addressed the lack of available space for businesses.

“Wicklow County Council has zoned 15 acres of ground in Arklow for a Gorey-based company to set up there, with 150 staff,” he said at the April meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD). “We need to look at town planning in Gorey in relation to industrial zoning. We’ve lost three companies already to Arklow, this is going to be the fourth.

“Our hands are tied at the moment, we can’t develop any further in Ballyloughan until the roads situation is resolved out there,” he added, referencing a recent planning application at the business park which was refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

However, despite Cllr Donohue’s concerns, the current focus for Gorey is on freeing up land for housing.

“We’re zoning land for housing, that’s our priority, and we’ll be focusing on Gorey’s zoned land this year,” said director of planning Liz Hore.

“We’ve enough people leaving the town to work in Dublin every morning, now they’re going to be commuting to our neighbouring towns too,” said Cllr Donohue.