Several groups appeal Dawn Meats decision to An Bord Pleanala

Meath County Council's decision to grant planning permission to Dawn Meats for a 7km industrial pipeline that would pump treated wastewater into the Boyne, has been appealed to an Bord Pleanala.

Dawn Meats last year applied for planning permission for an extension to its waste water treatment plant and these plans included the construction of a 7.2km pipeline that would carry waste water from its meat plant at Beauparc, across the parish and pump it into the River Boyne at Cotton Mills.

The planning application set out that the pipeline would be laid along a section of Windmill Road, the L1013, Yellow Furze Road, the L1600 (Boyne Road), and the unnamed local road leading from the L1600 to the private lands abutting the River Boyne at the discharge point.

The plans drew huge opposition locally over the impact the pumping of huge volumes of commercial treated wastewater would have on the integrity of the river and over 400 submissions were made on the plans. The 'Save the Boyne' Facebook page, set up as a platform for individuals and groups opposed to the plans, has more than 9,000 members.

Campaigners against the proposal were dismayed to receive confirmation last month that the council had granted planning permission and a public meeting was called to discuss the next steps in their fight against it.

A number of third party appeals have now been lodged on the plans including appeals from the Save the Boyne Group, Slane Bridge Anglers, Silver Bridge Kayak Club, Inland Fisheries Ireland amongst others.

Dawn Meats maintained in a statement following the granting of permission, that the development would have a "positive impact through the removal of tanker traffic from local roads", and that "third-party studies, including a Natura Impact Statement, have assessed no negative impact on the river Boyne or surrounding habitats".

According to the Bord Pleanala website, a decision is due on the appeal on 19th September.