Recycling firm told to wait for planning

AN environmental solutions company which proposes to develop a recycling facility in Waterford is being told it will have to wait for planning after the council said it is seeking further information on the project from the developers.

Advanced Environmental Solutions (AES) says the system it will use is tried and trusted worldwide with no threat of odours or environmental impacts from the site or activities proposed at Portlaw. But protestors have so far lodged objections with Waterford County Council. They have also held a protest outside the site at Portlaw.

Now Waterford County Council says a decision on planning for the organic waste composting operation will be delayed for months because they have sought further clarification on the planning application.

AES, meanwhile, says that it knows nothing of the request. “We have not received any correspondence from the council and believe the due date for a decision of September 26 still stands,” according to a company spokesman.

Six weeks ago, the Naas-based company submitted extra information on the proposal which the council had requested. The council confirmed at its monthly meeting this week a decision is now months away as it has requested clarification from the company on certain matters.

“We have written to AES for further clarification. I don’t think we have got all the answers. We are still some way away from making a decision,” Paul Daly told the meeting.

Cllr Paudie Coffey from Portlaw has welcomed the council’s decision to seek further clarification from the company. “If questions being asked (by the council) are not answered it is imperative that an answer is received before a decision is made,” he said.

“The community are depending on the expertise of the council to protect their environment. I ask council staff make every effort to make an informed decision on this,” said the Fine Gael representative.

AES Ireland’s planning application for the former tannery plant located off the Carrick-on-Suir to Kilmeaden Road at Killowen, Portlaw, has been met with a wall of opposition from local residents, who are concerned it will cause foul smells, pollution and traffic difficulties.

A few weeks ago residents from Portlaw, Fiddown and Piltown, protested outside the plant to highlight their concerns days after 150 people attended a public meeting in opposition to the proposal.