Kilclonfert locals grab chance to object to waste proposal with both hands

Significant further information regarding a planning application by Guessford Ltd relating to a waste facility at Barnan, Daingean, gave locals who previously missed their chance to object to the plan another window of opportunity, which they took up in numbers at Offaly County Council headquarters last Wednesday afternoon. Guessford Ltd initially applied for permission to add the handling and transfer of municipal solid waste and the operation of the associated machinery to their already approved recycling facility at Barnan last February. Offaly County Council requested further information in April, which was supplied on August 17 last. Because this information was deemed significant by Offaly County Council planners locals were given another chance to add submissions to the file. Speaking to the Offaly Independent yesterday (Thursday), Offaly County Council planners said they are processing over 50 submissions that have now been received relating to the application. Speaking to the Offaly Independent outside the Offaly County Council offices on Wednesday Elaine Dunne from Kilclonfert Residents Association said they are just happy to be given a second chance to take part in the planning process. "We're just very grateful to Offaly County Council for having awarded us an opportunity to have our say," she said. "As you can see the people and the locals of Kilclonfert and Daingean, Ballycommon, Tyrellspass and Croghan have all shown great support for the campaign. We're very glad now to have the chance to make some impact on the county council and hopefully they will do the decent thing by all of us and put our future well-being primary to this development." A submission from Kilclonfert Residents Association queries the proposed facility in nine main points including public health, water pollution, road safety, noise pollution, odours and property value in the area. "The application proposed does not clarify the catchment area with which this development will serve in terms of the collection of waste and its disposal in Barnan," the submission begins, going on to request clarity on the compatibility of the facility in the open countryside. "The principle of a development of this type has not been established with this rural area and it is our opinion that it contravenes the principles of proper planning and sustainability," the submission reads. The submission also details residents' belief that the facility could contaminate drinking water, increase noise pollution in the area and result in odours for residents situated within close proximity to the site. Concern is also raised regarding potentially increased levels of vermin, while the close proximity of the site to a designated Special Area of Conservation - Raheenmore Bog - is also mentioned. The submission says the network of local roads surrounding the site "do not have the capacity to facilitate the traffic levels which will result from this development, in terms of its road widths, surfacing and alignment". It also alludes to the value of property in the area near the site depreciating because of the proposed development. A decision is due from Offaly County Council regarding the project on September 13.