PRESS RELEASE – 10 June 2011
INDAVER REFUSED PERMISSION TO BUILD AFTER 10 YEAR BATTLE
An Bord Pleanala have today refused permission to Indaver Ireland to build hazardous and municipal waste incinerators at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, plans for which were initially announced by Indaver in April 2001.
The board has given four grounds for refusal which are in summary (see full details on http://www.pleanala.ie/news/PA0010/PA0010.htm):
- Contrary to County Waste Plans: The Board is not satisfied that the development would be compatible with the Waste Management Strategy for the region or the Waste Management Plan for County Cork, 2004.
- Site too Small, injury to amenities: The development would constitute overdevelopment of the site and would seriously injure the amenities of the area and of property in the vicinity, and would not be in accordance with proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
- Road Flood Risk Mitigation Measures Inadequate: The road serving the site is at risk of flooding and the Boards is not satisfied that the impacts of these measures have been fully described and assessed and that there is certainty in terms of their implementation and responsibility for same.
- Coastal Erosion Mitigation Measures Inadequate : On the basis of evidence put forward, the site might be at risk of coastal erosion in the future, and the Board is not satisfied that submission contains sufficient information in relation to implementation of such coastal protection measures and the impact of these works, including on other nearby property.
A total of €487,955 was awarded in costs, €382,341 of which is to An Bord Pleanala; €43,714 of which is to Cork County Council; and the remainder €69,000 to CHASE and other community applicants. This must be paid by the applicant, Indaver Ireland.
CHASE Chairperson, Mary O’Leary said “We are totally stunned and obviously delighted with this decision. An Bord Pleanala has today given concrete reasons for refusal, and these are grounds which have been argued from the outset by CHASE. We are happy to have been listened to at last, but lessons must be learned from this process and better decisions adopted at the first hurdle in everyone’s interests.
Huge credit is due to the wider community as a here, the members of CHASE, our solicitors and everyone who worked on the Oral Hearings, our supporters in the whole community, experts who visited us, our public representatives, our City and County Councils, Bord Pleanala’s inspectors and last but not least to An Bord Pleanala for recognising when enough is enough and finally making the right decision. It’s been a long ten years, but it should serve to show communities across Ireland that it’s worth the fight.”
ENDS
