A controversiaL superdump, which will take in rubbish from across the country, has been approved after an eight-year battle between residents and developers Greenstar.
An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for the landfill in the tiny Co Kildare village of Usk.
Residents have battled against the applicants, Greenstar Holdings Ltd, for years. But the planning appeals board has now approved the development.
The proposed superdump will be close to 180 houses and is to operate for 10 years.
The site already holds a full waste licence from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to accept up to 180,000 tonnes of waste every year for the 10-year operation.
Campaigners are furious at An Bord Pleanala for going against their own inspector's recommendation to refuse permission for the landfill.
"Their inspector has written three reports at this point on this application and recommended refusal in all of her reports," said Des Henry, chairman of the Usk and District Residents' Association (UDRAL).
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"Why then does An Bord Pleanala see fit to allow members of the board to again discount her professional opinion?"
The group has spent eight years and more than €300,000 opposing the landfill plans.
During this times the association won a High Court victory and three oral hearings and is "at a loss" to understand the decision.
The UDRAL committee is now meeting legal and technical experts to decide on its next step.
An Bord Pleanala had initially granted permission for the dump to Greenstar in 2006 -- against the recommendation of its own inspector. Residents successfully sought a judicial review of the decision in the High Court and An Bord Pleanala conceded that it had failed to keep proper records in the case.
The High Court ordered that a second oral hearing should take place and it was held in November 2007.
Since then An Bord Pleanala missed several target dates for a decision -- but finally approved the controversial landfill on Wednesday.
Eimear Ni Bhraonain
www.independent.ie
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