Environment group vows to take toxic waste battle to court

OBJECTORS to Ireland’s first toxic waste incinerator have vowed to take their battle to the European Court if planning permission is granted for the project.

Members of the Cork Harbour Area for a Safe Environment (CHASE), have already started collecting a war chest to fight the proposed 80 million incinerator plan at Ringaskiddy.

They also plan to turn out in large numbers at next month’s Cork County Council meeting where a vote on the Indaver plan is expected to be taken.

Sean Cronin, chairman of CHASE, said while he expected the majority of councillors to vote against the proposal, it was likely that Indaver would then appeal to Bord Pleanála.

If the appeals board overturns the councillors’ decision, CHASE are prepared for a lengthy legal battle, first in the High Court and then, if necessary, the European Court.

“We are preparing a war chest initially of up to 20,000 and we have engaged a team of lawyers. We are continuing to carry out small fundraisers, but we will organise a mass fundraiser if needed,” Mr Cronin said.

CHASE, an umbrella body for a number of local groups against the Indaver project, claims it represents the views of over 50,000 people living in the harbour area.

“More than 23,000 people have lodged individual objections with Cork County Council,” Mr Cronin said.

County manager Maurice Moloney has already indicated that he can see no impediment to granting Indaver planning permission.

Fine Gael, will vote against giving Indaver planning permission.

“It’s not consistent with the party’s waste strategy ,” Cllr Peter Kelly.