Port users urge immediate halt to docklands sale

THE chairman of the Limerick Port Users (LPU), yesterday appealed to the Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) to immediately halt the sale process of Limerick docks.

The port company is at present assessing offers made by at least 10 interested parties for 44 acres, which include the docks area.

Liam Woulfe who heads the port users said business at the port is growing and the facility has excellent staff and satisfied customers.

He said: “Instead, for reasons best known to the port company, a ‘for sale’ process has been embarked on. All the LPU’s businesses require is a well-functioning port to enable them to survive and prosper as importers/exporters.”

He deplored the suggestion last week by SFPC that the port users were more interested in compensation in the event of a sell off.

He said: “This is absolute rubbish. Compensation is not, has not and will never be of interest to the users.”

Mr Woulfe challenged the port company to carry out an economic and environmental impact study on the effects of the closure of Limerick Port.

Mr Woulfe said: “How an organisation that has a statutory obligation to manage the ports within its remit could start a sale process without carrying this step first, and subsequently addressing its findings, beggars belief.” Mr Woulfe appealed to SFPC chairman Kieran McSweeney and his board to “get real”.

He said they must produce an integrated business plan so port employees and a key piece of Limerick’s infrastructure don’t become victims of the current “cart before the horse” approach.