Council to appeal decision against planned landfill

A LOCAL authority which was told the Environmental Protection Agency intends to refuse it permission for a waste licence at a planned landfill is expected to appeal the decision next week.

Waterford County Council’s two landfills in Tramore and Dungarvan have now closed and waste is being transferred to Carlow.

Ten years ago, the council began looking for an alternative. Its battle for a landfill at Garrynagree has already seen it in the High Court twice with two judicial reviews also taking place.

Last week, the EPA announced it proposes refusing the council permission for a waste licence for a landfill at Garrynagree. The council is next week expected to confirm it will appeal.

The EPA’s reasons included an unacceptable risk of pollution to the River Lickey and a danger to the freshwater pearl mussel.

Senior engineer in the environment section of Waterford County Council, Paul Daly, says a more streamlined planning process for such developments is critically needed.

“We’re not trying to circumvent anything but this type of nonsense has to stop. There should be one process, one decision, one judicial review,” he said.