Council urged to oppose increasing dump capacity by ‘500 per cent’

Meath County Council has been urged to prepare a strong submission in opposition to the proposal for a ‘500 per cent’ increase in landfill capacity at Knockharley.

Cllr Darren O’Rourke made the call following a meeting of Ashbourne Municipal Council, where councillors unanimously supported his motion to oppose the planning application.
Knockharley Landfill Ltd has applied to An Bord Pleanala to increase the tonnage they can accept to 435,000 tonnes annually, including 5,000 tonnes of hazardous waste.
The site currently has planning permission to accept 88,000 tonnes of waste.
Meanwhile, local resident Fergal O’Byrne who has already lodged an objection to the project has urged An Bord Pleanala to hold an oral hearing. 
The deadline for public submissions was Tuesday (12th), but Meath County Council has until mid-March to make their submission.
Cllr O’Rourke has made a submission to An Bord Pleanála on his own behalf as a County Councillor and on behalf of the Sinn Féin party.
“Focusing on the clear policy contradictions, we said the proposed development is unnecessary, excessive and inconsistent with national waste management policy; will have a hugely negative impact on the environment in Knockharley, Kentstown and surrounding areas; is not in the best interest of the people of Knockharley, Kentstown, Meath or the people of Ireland; and should be opposed. We also called for an Oral Hearing to be held.”
Cllr O’Rourke received the unanimous support of his council colleagues to oppose the development. “This motion will now go to the full council meeting in March when we will consider Meath County Council’s submission to An Bord Pleanála. It is very important that councillors are united on this matter. It is even more important that Meath County Council outlines their opposition to the development. The case against this application is clear. Meath County Council needs to pull no punches.”
Cllr Joe Bonner said they had presentations from the transport section who said the N2 is at it’s capacity and to allow any further trucks or traffic on the road would be ludicrous.
“It shouldn’t even be considered until improvements are made on N2 and the traffic situation is improved.
“We led a delegation to the minister last year and he was shocked that not alone was the N2 stopping further development in the area, but it was also going to reduce existing jobs in the area.
“So there’s no way we can allow increased capacity at Knockharley with the state the N2 is in at the minute. It’s causing increased congestion all the way back to Emyvale in Monaghan.”
Local resident, Fergal O’Byrne said allowing a 500 per cent increase in waste acceptance at Knockharley Landfill Dump would threaten the viability of the incinerator at Duleek and in Ringsend Dublin as cheap landfill dumping with such massive annual tonnages will unfairly compete with waste to energy.
“Since the landfill dump opened on 24th December 2004, it has been a constant source of nuisance to my family and I and to my neighbours,” he said in his submission.
“The emissions of foul smelling odours is a constant background nuisance and from time to time, particularly in still and or frosty weather, this nuisance grows to intolerable levels, where it can permeate every room of our house.  
“I am particularly concerned about the impact this foul odour is having on my family’s health.  
“In addition, I note a significant increase in noise levels from the Knockharley Landfill Dump currently. This will increase by 500per cent with such a volume increase as proposed.”