The proposal to make the case for a proposed new Irish sugar beet factory to be sited at Kilworth cleared an important hurdle this week, when members of the northern area committee of Cork County Council gave the idea their full support.

Councillor Noel McCarthy, who first mooted the idea, had a motion before the meeting that the committee seek a commitment from the county manager to give serious consideration to any application that may arise in relation to the potential development of a sugar plant in Kilworth.

While the Mallow area members of the northern committee expressed the wish that any new factory be situated in Mallow, they agreed that they’d be happy to see it come to county Cork. The committee is to now write to Beet Ireland, the group planning the new factory, asking them to meet with Cork County Council. Cllr McCarthy will now bring the proposal to the full meeting of the county council.