20 new jobs for county Kilkenny in doubt as objections lodged to new manufacturing facility
A decision to allow a health food company set up a manufacturing facility in county Kilkenny creating 20 jobs in the process, is now in doubt following an appeal against the decision.
Last month, Kilkenny County Council decided to grant planning permission to Virginia Health Foods to develop a new manufacturing facility for the production of their health food products at the Wallslough Holiday Village, just outside Kilkenny City.
Virginia Health Foods, based in Kinsale, county Cork and supply some of Europe’s largest supermarkets, were set to create 20 new jobs as part of the venture.
However, these plans have now had to be put on hold after an appeal to Kilkenny County Council’s decision was lodged last week.
A group called the Wallslough Residents Group have lodged the appeal to the national planning authority An Bord Pleanála, which will now see a decision on whether the facility can go ahead being put back until November at least.
The Wallslough site, was chosen by Virginia Foods as in its application to Kilkenny County Councill it said it “fits into the ethos of the company,” and was selected after an extensive search for a suitable location across the country.
To create the new facility, the existing equestrian events and conference centre at Wallslough Holiday Village will be transformed into a light industrial unit for dry foods processing and packaging, creating 20 jobs in the process.
Virginia Health Food’s products range from gluten-free baking mixes to nutritious seed mixes for cereal toppings, crunch toppings, salad toppings and snacks.
Apart from producing their own products, Virginia also supplies ranges to supermarkets such as Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Et Corts Ingles.
