New plans for Crystal and old ESB site

KingLoser

http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1013/wedgwood.html

Waterford vistors' centre plans announced
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 10:47

Plans to set up a new visitors' centre, manufacturing and retail outlet for Waterford Crystal have been announced.

The plans propose to redevelop the old ESB offices and surrounding buildings on the Mall in Waterford city.

Negotiations are nearing a conclusion with the group who owns the Waterford Crystal brand over the operation of the facility.
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It is hoped around 100 direct jobs could be created at the new premises.

It is estimated that €20m will be invested by Waterford City Council at the site on the Mall and in a scheme to improve the accessibility of the heritage assets in the city's Viking triangle surrounding Reginald's Tower.

Initial funding for the project has already been secured from the European Regional Development Fund through the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly's programme for urban development and regeneration projects in designated gateways and hubs.

There are currently around 30 people still employed at the traditional Waterford Crystal facility at Kilbarry on the outskirts of the city.

At one stage in the 1980s, close to 3000 people were employed there. Manufacturing ceased in February, but the visitors' centre remains open.

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old news

Asmodean

Good news I say!!

seanybiker

why dont they just use the factory thats already here

JohnC.

seanybiker wrote: »

why dont they just use the factory thats already here

The factory site will probably be sold off eventually. Plus, the new site will be in the city centre in the "Viking Quarter" where they want to attract tourists to.

ziedth

makes sense to me,

That ESB building is a real eyesore. There is noway I can see anyone buying the old crystal factory. must be worth serious dosh and who's going to expand or move into waterford with things the way they are.

ex_infantry man

and if the crystal site is sold off whatever they get for it should be paid to the former employee,s since there pensions were lost! ! !

wellbutty

seanybiker wrote: »

why dont they just use the factory thats already here

All the contents of the existing factory (tank furnace, cutting machines etc) are going to auction next month. Here's the link:

http://www.go-dove.com/auctions/AuctionDetail.asp?auctionID=13616

Besides, the existing factory (capacity approx 30,000 pieces per WEEK) is way too big for the future planned production (40,000 pieces per YEAR)

jo06555

http://www.waterford-news.ie/news/story/?trs=mhkfojidey&cat=news

This can only boost waterfords tourism when done, it really was obvious when think about it , we famous for waterford crystal yet again no sign of it on our quays (where most our tourists pass) look at new ross have dunbrody centre and it does well and is well known . So i think this is good for waterford as it keeps the brand going after all the workers over the years have done to make that brand name stick.

foxylad

Waterford Crystal was the second biggest tourist attraction in Ireland -
it would be great to see 350,000 people shopping, eating, drinking and enjoying our CITY CENTRE rather than outside it - if done correctly - it could turn our city centre around and be busier than kilkenny!

road_high

wellbutty wrote: »

All the contents of the existing factory (tank furnace, cutting machines etc) are going to auction next month. Here's the link:

http://www.go-dove.com/auctions/AuctionDetail.asp?auctionID=13616

Besides, the existing factory (capacity approx 30,000 pieces per WEEK) is way too big for the future planned production (40,000 pieces per YEAR)

That is very sad indeed. No doubt it will be shipped off to China or somewhere for a song.

Is "Waterford" Crystal still being made?? Obviously in Eastern Europe et al (as so much of it had been recently). Have still seen it in the shops.

road_high

See some of that equipement dated as recently as 2005. Hard to believe 3 or 4 years later it is all gone. I honestly never thought Waterford Crystal would close.
Wasn't it making healthy profits there around year 2000?? I remember seeing a news clip about it. Things must have gone seriously downhill.