ONE of the country's top racehorse trainers believes plans to build a huge incinerator outside a rural village would devastate the equine industry.
Noel Meade -- a man well-known for his success in Irish racing -- is worried about the impact on prize thoroughbreds of burning up to 105,000 tonnes of waste every year .
Mr Meade has expressed concerns about the effect of emissions on animals he trains if plans by College Proteins to build an incinerator outside Nobber, Co Meath, get the green light.
The champion trainer -- along with other key members of the Irish equine sector -- are mounting a strong lobby against the proposal. They are hoping to replicate the success of horse trainer Aidan O'Brien, who vehemently opposed an incinerator in Co Tipperary last year.
In July 2008, Mr O'Brien's campaign paid off when An Bord Pleanala ruled against a waste incinerator near his Ballydoyle stable and Coolmore stud.
Speaking to the Irish Independent yesterday, Noel Meade said an incinerator in Co Meath would make no sense.
"If it wasn't good enough to be done in Tipperary, I don't see how it can be done in Nobber."
Application
The third week of An Bord Pleanala's oral hearing into the application by College Proteins gets under way in Carrickmacross today.
Earlier, the oral hearing into the application heard from College Proteins ceo John Gilroy. Mr Gilroy had contested statements that the company was unable to manage the current plant. The company currently processes animal by-products and generates 37,500 tonnes of meat and bone meal (MBM) annually. It wants to develop its plant as it believes this will ensure its long-term viability.
The company previously stated MBM would be carried in sealed containers with appropriate certification verified by the Department of Agriculture. It also stated that "fly ash" -- a by-product from incineration -- would be contained in the correct tankers.
Eimear Ni Bhraonain
Irish Independent
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