Council concerns over Amazon plant at former Jacobs site
By Aideen O'Flaherty
Significant concerns in relation to water services have been expressed by South Dublin County Council at the proposed development of a temporary gas-powered generation plant on Mayberry Road, on a portion of the site of the former Jacob’s Biscuit Factory, for the Amazon data centre being developed on the site.
The council requested additional information on the application last week, where they looked for details about where the proposed stormtech attenuation system will be located, the run-off factor for buildings, roads and grasslands being used in surface water attenuation systems, and the total area of the development site.
The council also stated in their request that “the concerns are significant because the application needs to be assessed with respect to the Greater Dublin Regional Code of Practice for Drainage Works”.
This follows concerns raised by residents in last week’s edition of The Echo, which included issues about the presence of a generation plant near a residential area, the publication of the ad for planning permission in the Irish Examiner and the completion of an emergency entrance on Mayberry Road.
Representatives of Amazon Web Services also met with local representatives last week about concerns relating to the proposed development.
Dublin South West Fianna Fáil TD John Lahart, who was at a meeting with the Amazon representatives, told The Echo: “One of the things they said to me is that they want to be good neighbours.
“I told them that one of the first steps to being good neighbours is being open with the community, and I’m satisfied that they are keen to do that.”
Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor, who also met with the representatives, told The Echo: “They are now giving us what I hope will be guarantees that work will be done.
“I’m quite happy with what they’ve told me, but now they need to action that.”
A spokesperson from Amazon told The Echo: “Work on the site in Tallaght is being done to improve and enhance the emergency entrance and will be complete in the next few weeks.
“Plans for the temporary gas generators, which will provide power to the site are under review by the council.
“The gas generators will use natural gas, a clean fuel, which is used in homes and businesses throughout Ireland and will be decommissioned after 18 months.”
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