This is brilliant news altogether!
Off the back of the news that Glanbia and Leprino Foods intend to open a cheese manufacturing plant in Togher, it has been revealed that another company is to purchase land on the site.
Robinson Distribution Limited from Portarlington have struck a deal with the Council to purchase 11.3 acres for €670,000.
They are a company based in Portnahinch has a long and proud history in the forest machinery sector.
The company was established in 2002 to supply an efficient repair and maintenance service for timber harvesting and log handling equipment and has thrived ever since.
The company currently employ around 25 people but have outgrown their current facility and wish to expand.
Speaking at today’s monthly Council meeting, where Cllrs endorsed the move, Director of Services Kieran Kehoe says the company wish to expand their workforce to between 60 and 70 people.
He said: “This is good news as this is a very successful company who export globally to places like Germany, Russia and Scandinavia.
“They say that they will employ 60 to 70 people when the new facility is open.”
Cllr Paddy Bracken welcomed the deal and called it ‘good news’ – he also wished the company well.
Cllrs Willie Aird and Brendan Phelan also called for the Council to ensure that the land in this deal or any other deal could not be subdivided and sold on by potential buyers.
Chief Executive John Mulholland said that this would not be allowed to happen.
Meanwhile, two objections have been lodged against a facility which will see 78 jobs created in Portlaoise if the new Glanbia Cheese facility opens in Togher.
Planning permission was approved for the new plant in the industrial estate in September of this year.
Elected members of Laois County Council agreed to the disposal of lands at Togher to Glanbia Cheese JV.
This followed a decision by the Council to purchase roughly 80 acres of land for the €130 million development at the location in 2017.
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