Is Meath to be heritage capital or waste capital?

Dear sir - I am very concerned about the impact the proposed power plant at Panda Waste will have on the East Meath area. This is another massive waste project planned for Meath. The proposed Biomass Power Plant apparently covers over five acres and has major implications for air quality, potentially spreading cancer causing dioxins over a huge area with the prevailing winds from chimneys heading right over Newgrange and the Boyne valley region. Water quality is also at major risk since the Lougher river, adjacent to the site, runs into the Boyne with the possibility of spills and toxic substance polluting the water. This will affect spawning beds, drinking water, and the whole eco system of the river Boyne. Property will be utterly devalued and the area will become a no-go for home buyers. We already have the Knockharley dump and now this. Meath County Council needs to make a decision: Do they want Meath to be the dump capital of Ireland or the Heritage capital of Ireland? I'm all for creating jobs and Panda is a good employer but this is a bridge too far, with risks too great, for too many sections of the community: for health, farming, and tourism, and it will only create a maximum of 40 jobs. Newgrange UNESCO heritage site is one of only two sites in this country and there is now no doubt, if this plant goes ahead the UNESCO status would be seriously compromised. There is huge potential in job creation in the Boyne Valley region all built around the Newgrange site. Meath is abundantly rich in heritage and it just hasn't been developed and it requires some one with determination and imagination to get up and make it happen instead of looking for soft job options that may have a short term gain but in the long term may destroy the riches we have to offer the world. Too many of our leading politicians in Meath just 'run with the hare and hunt with the hound' and Meath Co Council has been totally inept in tapping in to the real growth areas that will create huge employment in the Boyne Valley region. Yours, Bobby McMahon, Beauparc.