Councillors reject plans for €1m recycling facility
The council executive must now look for another site to serve much of the north Kerry area and county manager Martin Riordan, who had asked councillors to defer their decision, said an alternative site may be very difficult to find.
Up to 70 local residents had mounted strong opposition to the facility, which had been earmarked by the council executive for the Tanavalla Industrial Estate, a mile on the Tralee side of Listowel.
In a letter on behalf of the residents, Michelle Buckley claimed they had not been consulted and they were objecting for health and safety reasons.
The centre would have facilities for recycling and domestic waste disposal. The council approved a similar centre for Lispole, three miles from Dingle.
Council environment director Philip O’Sullivan said the site was the most suitable in north Kerry and was close to a mart. A €900,000 grant was available.
It took the council five years to get the site.
However, Listowel FF Cllr Ned O’Sullivan strongly opposed the location, saying it appeared to be chosen out of desperation. He said while the residents of Tanavalla had accepted a lot of industrial-type development, including a large Kerry Group factory, it was still a very residential area.
He proposed that the council reject the Tanavalla site and request officials to look for a more appropriate site within three miles of Listowel.
Mr Riordan said there was a huge need for civic amenity facilities and councillors could not keep saying ‘not, here, not here.’
He said they were trying to put a waste management plan in place and to get people to recycle.
“If we don’t have these facilities, we will have more illegal dumping. I would urge the council to engage in consultations before you make a decision in relation to Listowel,” Mr Riordan said.
“If you vote against it, it will be the end of the site and Listowel could lose €1m in investment.”
An amendment by FF Cllr John Brassil that the council defer a decision pending further consultation was defeated on a 12-8 vote.
Mr O’Sullivan’s proposal was then passed without opposition.
Philip O’Sullivan rejected claims that there had been no consultations regarding the Listowel site.
He said it had been discussed at area meetings for councillors and notices had been placed in a local newspaper.
