News from down the country

national | environment | news report Friday November 28, 2008 15:51 by Contaminated Crow

Mainly waste this week

Up to 150 residents met in Farranfore, Co. Kerry on Monday night to form the Scart/Caherdean Concerned Residents’ Committee to oppose an application by Kerry Central Recycling facility Ltd. to build a waste transfer and recycling station on the main Killarney to Farranfore road. Local resident Sharon Payne said ‘The planning application has been lodged for some time but we have only just become aware of it. There is also a rumour that phase two might include incineration and we are very concerned.’ (Kerryman (sic)(South) 26/11/08, p.1; The Kingdom 25/11/08, p.1)

Over 500 people attended a meeting called by Cavan Better Waste Management (CBWM) at which Oxigen Environmental Ltd. were accused of telling ‘a pack of lies’ about the compliance with environmental regulations of their landfill at Corranure, Cavan. Cian Murtagh, CBWM chairperson, called for no further use to be made of the site while angry residents claimed local children suffered a high level of diarrhea and stomach bugs. (Anglo-Celt 27/11/08, pp.1,9; Cavan Post 25/11/08, p.4)

At last week’s oral hearing a proposed incinerator at a quarry site near Kill, Co. Kildare was attacked as dangerous to human and animal health by racehorse trainer Ted Walshand dismissed as unnecessary as a regional incineration site was already planned for Poolbeg, while scientist Deborah McDermott asked where the toxic waste from the incineration process would be disposed of and Tallaght Community Council secretary Jim Lawlor said incinerator emissions would be carried to Naas and Tallaght. (Leinster Leader 27/11/08, p.3)

North East Against Incineration responded to news that College Proteins was re-applying for an incinerator at Nobber, Co. Meath with a scathing attack on the company, which, despite being in contact with an Bord Pleanala for over a year, had been unable to formulate a valid planning application. NEAI noted ‘The community of Nobber remains overwhelmingly opposed to this proposed incinerator. Over 170 submissions representing in excess of over 7,000 active objectors were made to the board’, calling for the application to be rejected and all costs to be reimbursed to the community. (Meath Chroncile 29/11/08, p.11)

Dublin City Council has released a list of ten options for boosting Dublin’s water supply, seven of which involve taking millions of gallons of water from Lough Ree and/or Lough Derg, plans fiercely opposed by local, angling and environmental groups. The plans are now open for public comment until February 27, 2009. (Nenagh Guardian 29/11/08, p.4)

An Taisce has lodged an objection to plans to expand the carpark at Knock Airport, Co. Mayo, claiming an EIA is required for the development, attacking the airport and Mayo County Council for promoting ‘an unsustainable car-based model’ of transport and accusing the airport of ‘indifference’ towards the impact of emissions on the environment. (Western People 25/11/08, p. 11)

Ballina Marine Action Group has attacked Eclipse Development, which is planning a major marina development at Ballina, Co. Tipperary, for its ‘dismissive attitude’ to local concerns. BMAG spokesperson Joe Chalane said ‘We asked for the master plan along with detailed plans, we asked for an Environmental Impact Assessment and the developers stated very publicly that they would put their plans on public display. None of this happened.’ (Nenagh Guardian 29/11/08 p.7).