Irving refinery mothballing pleases residents

Some Saint John-area residents living close to where Irving Oil Ltd. and BP had proposed to build a second oil refinery are celebrating that the massive project will not disturb their quiet neighbourhood.

The decision to mothball plans to build a second refinery in Saint John is considered a significant economic blow to the city, but people in the Red Head area believe the project would have been a major disruption to their tranquil neighbourhood.

Teresa Debly's family has lived in the Red Head area for more than 50 years. She said she hopes the decision means her neighbourhood will be left in peace without the upheaval of placing a massive oil refinery in the area.

"I was happy, but you know cautiously happy, it [might] delay things for a few years, I think it's good news," she said.

Garry Prosser just finished building his retirement home near the proposed site on Anthony Cove Road.

Prosser said he was opposed to the plans for the project, known as Eider Rock, from the start.

The tanks for the oil refinery would have been located across the street from his new house.

"I'm very sad for the community in Saint John as a whole because this meant jobs and this meant spinoffs," he said.

"But when I look at it, personally for my quality of life, enjoyment of property, I'm ecstatic. I hope it never goes through."

Irving and BP blamed the downturn in the economy and the changing ways people use petroleum as the main reasons for scuttling the project.

Irving Oil had partnered with BP to build the $8-billion project and construction was supposed to start in 2011. At its peak, the refinery project was to create 5,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs.