Incinerator site submerged

ENVIRONMENTAL activists last night claimed floods proved plans for a 100,000 tonne toxic burner in Cork harbour were awash with flaws.

Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment said it would be disastrous if the tidal deluge struck again when the Ringaskiddy incinerator was up and running.

Storm force winds, high tides and heavy rain battered the south coast for almost 24 hours, leaving the incinerator site submerged in three feet of water.

CHASE chairwoman Mary O’Leary said: “It was just a fortuitous act. We have no hand in that but we can’t complain.

“We are glad that this has happened now, where it illustrates that the site is wrong, rather than when there is hazardous waste in storage on the site,” she said.

Around 15,000 residents on Great Island, near the proposed incinerator site, were left stranded last night as high tides swamped the area. Further flooding is expected, with high seas and rain lashing the harbour area.

Ms O’Leary said it was direct proof the site failed World Health Organisation criteria and backed up inspectors’ concerns over the plan.

“It is irresponsible to proceed with the project,” she said. “If there had been a serious accident last night there would have been no escape route.”

The Ringaskiddy plant, which will cost over €75 million, will deal with 100,000 tonnes of industrial and commercial waste each year.

The burner could be up and running by 2007 and employ 50 people.