The chairwoman of an anti-incinerator lobby group said yesterday it was a "sad day for Cork", following the decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for Ireland's first toxic waste incinerator, writes Louise Geaney.
Comprised of residents of the Lower Harbour Area in Co Cork, CHASE (Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment) has been to the fore in opposing Indaver Ireland's plans to build the incinerator in the area since they emerged in November 2001.
More that 200 residents of the Ringaskiddy region, some clad in boiler suits and gas masks, protested outside the oral hearing held at the Neptune Stadium, Cork city, last September at which they called on the Government to protect them from the dangers of incineration.
Yesterday, the decision of An Bord Pleanála to approve the incinerator outraged opponents and local representatives.
"We are bitterly disappointed and totally shocked at the ruling. We put two years' hard work into this. We put an excellent case together and went into immense technical detail. This decision shouldn't have gone ahead as far as we're concerned," said spokeswoman Ms Linda Fitzpatrick.
The lobby group criticised An Bord Pleanála because it said it had failed to assess the risk to people's health, which it said was a breach of EU law and which may see the group demand a judicial review of the decision.
"The question must be asked that if, in light of all this, and against the inspectors' recommendation, a project is allowed to proceed, what is the value of having a planning process at all?
"It certainly does not indicate a transparent, independent planning process, and smacks of anarchy," CHASE chairwoman Ms Mary O'Leary said.
"The fact of the matter is that Ireland has 15-20,000 tonnes of hazardous waste per annum for incineration. A commercial company has now been approved to build a 100,000 tonne facility. It is unnecessary and wrong," she added.
CHASE is now looking at the possibility of standing candidates in the forthcoming local elections in June.
"We're not finished yet, we're in this battle for the long haul," the spokeswoman said.
Meanwhile, Indaver Ireland yesterday said it was delighted with the ruling, which it said would support the pharmaceutical and chemical sector by putting in place the necessary infrastructure for the management of their waste.
"Having gone through the 27 conditions which the board laid down, there appears to be nothing with which we can't comply," general manager, Mr John Ahern said.
He said that the company was more than willing to set aside €127, 000 a year towards a local community fund, as obliged by the board.