Drogheda Corporation has called a meeting to discuss the recent decision by Meath County Council to grant planning permission for a waste-management facility for a site at Carranstown, three miles from Drogheda.
Drogheda Corporation made a formal objection to the planning application by Indaver Ireland and a number of members of the corporation have attended meetings of local groups opposed to incineration.
The special meeting of the corporation, scheduled for Friday evening, was instigated by Senator Fergus O'Dowd, who secured the signatures of five or more of the 12 members of the corporation to requisition the special meeting.
"I felt it was extremely important that the elected members of Drogheda Corporation reaffirm their earlier decision to object, as a corporate body, to the planning application; the people of the town would want us to be resolute and consistent," he said.
Four Fianna Fail councillors are among the nine signatories and Senator O'Dowd says there is cross-party support for the meeting because incineration is an issue of concern to the whole community.
It is expected the meeting will discuss the possibility of appealing the granting of the planning permission to An Bord Pleanala.
"All we can do is summarise our objections and seek an oral hearing; I want a team of professional consultants retained by the corporation to make the case on behalf of the people of Drogheda," the Senator added.
He criticised the Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr James Mulroy, for not calling the meeting. Alderman Mulroy explained that in the period since he supported the original planning objection, he has become involved in a business project, which could lead to a perception he had a conflict of interest if he was to get further involved in the debate.
An Bord Pleanala yesterday confirmed he has not yet received a valid appeal but had received two invalid appeals to the planning permission.
However, a large number of local groups and individuals are expected to lodge appeals or observations to appeals in the coming weeks. Next Tuesday is the closing date by which appeals must be made to An Bord Pleanala and within another four weeks observations can be made.
In Louth and Meath the No Incineration Alliance campaign group is preparing its appeal and the controversy over incineration is set to continue in the area for some time.