Sunday 12 October 2008

Field mix-up halts incinerator hearing

An oral hearing into plans to build an incinerator has been adjourned after it emerged that more than five acres earmarked as part of an adjoining landfill did not belong to the company.

College Proteins had applied under the Strategic Infrastructure Act (SIA) to An Bord Pleanala for permission for the development on its existing site in Nobber, Co Meath, where it operates a rendering factory.

However, David Horgan told the ninth day of the hearing that a five-acre field included in the plans was his.

He told Thursday's sitting that he had not been asked to sell the field or asked for permission to include it in the plans.

When the hearing resumed yesterday, Ms Suzanne Murray counsel for College Proteins confirmed that the field "was owned by Mr Horgan and is not owned by College Proteins".

She said it was with adjoining fields to be used for soil depositions during the construction of the landfill.

She said that the SIA did not give the inspector or the board the power to invalidate the application. If it did decide to invalidate it, the company would seek its planning application fee to be returned.

Elaine Keogh
Irish Independent

www.buckplanning.ie

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