Locals launch strong campaign of opposition to plans for Rhode landfill site

A campaign of outright opposition has been embarked on by residents in north Offaly to plans by a local environmental company to open a new landfill site on the outskirts of the village of Rhode.

More than 100 submissions have been received by Offaly County Council from local residents and elected representatives objecting to plans by Oxigen Environmental Unlimited Company for a materials recovery facility on a site at Derryarken, Rhode.

The plans, which were lodged with the planning authority on September 21 last, state that the landfill facility would accept and process up to 90,000 tonnes of household, commercial and construction waste per annum when it becomes operational.

A meeting to discuss the Oxigen plans is due to take place in Rochfortbridge Community Hall on Monday night next, October 9, at 7pm.

Among the public representatives to object to the proposed landfill site is local Fine Gael Cllr Liam Quinn. In a six-page submission, he highlighted what he said was the lack of consultation with any of the homeowners in the townslands adjoining the development. While pointing out that this is not mandatory he added “surely best practice would suggest” that they should have been informed.

He also said the site was an unsuitable location due to its close proximity to the summit of Croghan Hall and the Yellow River, noting that the former is a designated 'Area of High Amenity' in the Offaly County Development Plan while the latter is a tributary of the River Boyne, which is “a European Designated 'Special Area of Conservation' as listed under the EU Habitats Directive.

In his submission, Cllr Quinn also made reference to the incapacity of the local road infrastructure to cope with additional traffic; the damage to existing infrastructure; the proliferation of existing and planned developments around the site and negative effects that the proposed landfill site would have on plans to extend the Grand Canal Greenway to Croghan Hill and develop a Lough Na Shade Amenity Area on a section of bog opposite the development.

Cllr Noel Cribbin's submission stated that the entrance to the proposed site off the Rhode to Rochfortbridge road has “one of the worst road surfaces in Ireland” and bringing a landfill site to the area which is “going to bring hundreds of lorry loads of rubbish is not acceptable as this road cannot cope with extra heavy traffic of this scale.”

Submissions were also received from Cllrs Eddie Fitzpatrick, Robert McDermott, Mark Hackett and Deputy Carol Nolan. Cllr Hackett acknowledged the need for the “circular economy services” proposed for the planned facility, but sought assurances that the proposal will be “future proofed with regard to climate change and any planned or proposed adaptation and mitigation, including rewetting of nearby bog.” He also pointed out that he is aware of a “lengthly licencing review process” involving Oxigen Environmental's “other Rhode site” and added that there are concerns “regarding traffic to and from that site.”

A submission from the residents of Knockdrin Lane in Rhode, which is located within 2km of the proposed development, said the landfill site will result in “unacceptable emissions of noise, fumes, dust, dirt and odour.”

They also stated that they have “great concerns” about the increased amounts of HGVs that will be using the R400 road to the site. “The R400 is built on a bog surface, and the road is now closed due to severe subsidence which has also caused the collapse of a bridge as a result of the large volume of HGV's that are currently using it” they said.

The Knockdrin Lane residents also noted that the applicants stated there will be “a slight impact” on the local area and said they “totally disagree” with this statement. “We have found it most disrespectful that no public meetings or consultations with local residents have ever taken place,” stated the Knockdrin Lane residents.

Offaly County Council is due to make a decision on the application by November 7.