Future of Waterford city's Tycor 'hard to tell' as Minister for Housing visits fire wreckage
Members of Gravity Asbestos Removal at the scene of the fire at the Tycor Business Centre. Photo: Joe Evans
Minister for Housing James Browne joined an entourage of political figures that visited the devastated remains of the Tycor Business Centre on Tuesday, May 11.
He was joined by Waterford Ministers of State Mary Butler and John Cummins, Council Chief Executive Seán McKeown and the Council’s Chief Fire Officer Niall Curtin.
Air monitors dotted the border of the business park, monitoring for an increase in asbestos.
“Thankfully, there is no sign, in terms of air monitoring, of any elevated limits of asbestos, which is very positive,” said Minister Browne. “The advice is very clear that if you do see anything that you think might be asbestos, don't touch it.
“There are very real concerns for local people there, but the health services, very much, are on top of the situation here.”
Mr Curtin said the fire - which required support from Tramore, Dunmore East, Kilmachtomas, Cappoquin, Dungarvan and Kilkenny fire services - was likely the most powerful he has dealt with in his established career.
“On arrival, we found a very fast-moving fire, which demanded extensive resources, and we were able to call on our brigades throughout Waterford city and county, and also, assisted by Kilkenny County Fire Service, we were able to get specialist appliances into operation relatively early and suppress the fire.”
Mr McKeown said no problems have arisen with water quality, but any problems with water discolouration should be reported to Uisce Éireann.
Minister Butler said that support for the myriad of businesses and social enterprises affected will be handled by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Enterprise.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, will visit the Tower Hotel on Tuesday evening.
The schemes being rolled out to business owners are expected to be akin to those of flood relief schemes issued in the wake of Storm Chandra.
It’s understood that Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane will also be attempting to organise a meeting with affected business owners.
Causeway Group, one of Waterford’s most prolific property management companies, owns the majority of the industrial estate.
CEO and founder of the Causeway Group, Sean Johnston, arrived outside the flamed-out industrial estate on Monday, May 11, and spoke with business owners.
Asked by the whether he understood the origins of the fire, Mr Johnston declined to comment.
“We're more concerned with the people in here,” he said.
He said that approximately 35 businesses and 50 units were affected by the fire. Some social enterprises, such as the Brothers of Charity that cared for roughly 25 intellectually disabled adults, will be forced to relocate.
He said that in general, businesses at the centre would be migrating across the city over the coming period.
The Causeway Group took over the premises in 1990, and transformed the estate from a premises reliant on heavy “dirty industry” to now feature a wider community of social enterprises and businesses.
He said the premises had courted businesses because of its affordability and reputation for business.
He said “it’s hard to tell” where the industrial estate goes in the future.
Businesses like DVF Print & Graphic Solutions may have suffered little internal damage, but if internal wiring was damaged, newfound problems could arise.
