Wednesday 13 August 2008

Locals fear Ballynagran will become Superdump

Residents living under the shadow of Ballynagran Landfill say there is no way Greenstar should be allowed bring waste from all over Ireland on to the site for fear it will turn into a Superdump.'They further allege that the dump already can't cope with the amount of waste already on the site with foul odours a constant problem.

Residents living under the shadow of Ballynagran Landfill say there is no way Greenstar should be allowed bring waste from all over Ireland on to the site for fear it will turn into a Superdump.'

They further allege that the dump already can't cope with the amount of waste already on the site with foul odours a constant problem.

If they get permission then we are afraid that further down the line the dump will be extended into some kind of Superdump. That would be the absolute end of us all,' says Michael Mulvihill, whose home is overlooked by the dump.

In 2003 An Bord Pleneala ruled that two-thirds of all waste to be dumped at Ballynagran Landfill had to be generated within the county, with the remaining one third coming from neighbouring counties. Now Greenstar want that condition lifted to allow them collect waste from all over the country regardless of proximity to Wicklow.

People living in the picturesque setting of Ballynagran and Coolbeg have long been opposed to the dump and see this latest move as a real slap in the face.'

I already have two letters of non-compliance issued by the EPA because of the foul stench coming from the dump. How can they be allowed to bring more waste from outside the county on site when they already can't stop the horrible smell as things stand?' adds Mr. Mulvihill, who aims to lodge his own objection with Wicklow County Council before Friday's deadline.

We are four years down the line from when the dump first opened and we are still having the same problems we were promised would never arise in the first place.'

Mr. Mulvihill also complains that the constant odours are having a negative affect on the health of his asthmatic son, who now has to spend most of his time living with friends or relatives because of the smells.

However a spokesperson for Greenstar rebuked the notion that they were hoping to bring more waste on site.

A removal of this restriction would have no affect on the amount of waste that the Ballynagran residual landfill facility can accept. Technically it would mean we could collect waste from other parts of the country but that isn't what we intend to do. It would just free us up to collect more waste from neighbouring counties. '

Currently the facility is permitted to dispose of 150,000 tonnes of residual, commercial and industrial and municipal waste per year.

Wicklow People

www.buckplanning.ie

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