By Suzanne Pender

WAS the ‘wool pulled over our eyes to move it elsewhere’, asked a local councilor as the controversial topic of the Bagenalstown Enterprise Center came up again.

Carlow County Council has committed to building an enterprise center for the town. However, the original site along the River Barrow in Bagenalstown was later deemed unsuitable due to a European Habitats Directive.

Cllr Arthur McDonald asked at this month’s meeting of Carlow County Council if there had been an update on Enterprise House or if an alternative site had been identified. His pleas were backed by cllr Andy Gladney, who asked officials if “the wool has been pulled over our eyes to move it elsewhere”. Cllr Gladney remarked that there was already development at the site and “no particular species were found”.

Director of Services Michael Rainey remarked that he was “not sure about this cynicism” and reiterated the council’s “ambition” to have a business center in Bagenalstown.

Mr Rainey said the Habitats Directive may not have been in place when development had previously taken place in the area and confirmed that “half of the site” previously identified was contained within a conservation area.

The manager again said the council was committed to the project and was working to find an alternative site.