Calls to close landfill over ‘sickening’ stench

CLAIMS have been made that people living near a major refuse dump in east Cork have been physically sick owing to the smells coming from it.

A number of angry county councillors have called on Cork County Council officials to close the dump in Youghal, which is the only landfill operating in Co Cork.

Cllr Martin Hallinan got standing orders suspended at a council meeting in County Hall yesterday to discuss the issue.

“It’s going on for a long time, but the situation at the moment is unbearable. Within a mile of it, people can’t open windows or hang out washing. People are getting physically sick,” the Sinn Féin councillor said.

He claimed that if the landfill was operated by a private individual and not Cork County Council, the operator would be prosecuted.

“I got physically sick myself from it. I’m getting dozens of phone calls on a regular basis,” said Cllr Hallinan.

“The smells aren’t occurring on the odd day. It’s happening every day, 24/7.”

Cllr Noel Collins (Independent) said he wanted to see an independent inquiry into the situation.

“It’s having an ongoing negative impact on the town,” he added.

Cllr Barbara Murray (Fine Gael) described the smell as “absolutely putrid” and added that comments made by Cllr Hallinan were not exaggerated.

“Youghal is stunk out,” she said.

County manager, Martin Riordan, said the council would do everything it could to mitigate the smells.

“It is coming to the end of its life. It’s on its last year to 18 months of usage. I will follow complaints through with my staff,” he said.